Solo, Indonesia, 7-11 July 2010 - With the strike of the gong, Mr. Hari Untoro Drajat, Director General for History and Archaeology, Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Indonesia and Chairman of ASEAN National COCI of Indonesia, opened the 11th Meeting of the ASEAN Sub-committee on Culture (SCC) in Solo, Indonesia. Mr Hari reiterated the importance of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Blueprint as a guideline for improving and strengthening cultural cooperation for peace and friendship in the ASEAN region. Also at the opening ceremony was the Mayor of Solo, Mr Joko Widodo.
The 11th SCC brought together ASEAN officers responsible for culture to discuss cultural cooperation activities among ASEAN Member States as well as with ASEAN's dialogue partners. The activities included the ASEAN Youth Camp and the People-to-People Exchange Programme to promote cultural interaction at the grassroots.
The participants were treated to a night of vibrant music at the opening of the Solo International Contemporary Ethnic Music (SIEM) performance in Solo Stadium, which drew an audience of several hundred people.
The 6th Networking of East Asia Cultural Heritage (NEACH) was held back-to-back with the 11th SCC. Participants from China, Japan and the Republic of Korea joined their ASEAN counterparts in Solo and discussed the various projects implemented so far and the projects to be implemented to promote cultural heritage among the ASEAN+3 countries. NEACH covers 11 programme areas, including the fields of arts and crafts; archives and documentation; museums and archaeology; and, architectural and urban conservation.
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