Jakarta, 17th June 2019. Three well-known universities in China namely Renmin University, Minnan Normal University, Quemoy University attended the London School of Public Relations – Jakarta (LSPR) on Monday, June 17, 2019 to give a public lecture entitled Chinese Folk Culture at Prof. Djajusman Auditorium & Performance Hall – LSPR Campus B, Jl. K.H.Mas Mansyur Kav 35, Jakarta. This activity is a collaboration of LSPR Jakarta through the ASEAN Study Center (Center for ASEAN Public Relations Studies) with China Mission to ASEAN. LSPR Jakarta is believed to be the campus that receives the arrival of 30 Chinese Delegations in the framework of a visit to ASEAN.
This Public Lecturer aims to promote Chinese Folk Culture in ASEAN. The speaker in this Public Lecturer is 1) Mr. Cao Nanlai, Associate Professor, School of Philology, Renmin University of China; 2) Ms. Yang Yajun, Schwarzman Scholar of Tsinghua University; 3) Mr. Liu Yun, Associate Professor, Vice Dean of Minnan Culture Research Institute of Minnan Normal University; 4) Mr. Chen Yiyuan, Dean of the Humanities and Social Sciences School of Quemoy University and 5) Rudi Sukandar, P.hD. At the Public Lecturer, Chinese Folk Culture will also be displayed such as tai chi, tea ceremonies, flower arrangements and playing traditional Chinese musical instruments by performers from the Beijing Folk Museum. The Tea Ceremony has a long history in China and what is displayed on LSPR is a tradition from the Ming dynasty. Tai-chi is a category of martial arts wherein it is about how to balance yin and yang. The movement must be balanced with the breathing techniques of Tai-chi martial arts.
In front of hundreds of students, management and lecturers of LSPR Jakarta, Jiang Qin, Minister of Counselor of China Mission to ASEAN conveyed folk culture as an important asset of a country & cultural identity, because it can be a window to observe the evolution of history and civilization of a nation. This Public Lecturer activity is important to promote and preserve culture and specifically to raise awareness of the younger generation of culture. LSPR Jakarta has become an active participant in the people to people exchange program between China and ASEAN and also LSPR has integrated Chinese learning and studies of Chinese culture in its curriculum, so that we hope LSPR Jakarta can become a medium for the younger generation in particular. to be interested in Chinese culture, and help build bridges of communication, friendship and cooperation that will lead to mutual growth and prosperity between Indonesia and China.
Mr. Cao Nanlai, Associate Professor, School of Philosophy, Renmin University of China in a panel discussion expressed about how cultural heritage can be a connection to build mutual understanding between China and other countries. In addition, it was also mentioned about the government’s program regarding how this promotes Chinese Folk Culture through various events such as tea ceremonies,flower arrangements etc.
Ms. Yang Yajun, Schwarzman Scholar of Tsinghua University gave a little explanation about Chinese Folk Culture, where China not only has ethnic uniqueness but also has universal similarities. In order to promote cultural heritage by using different media, such as through notes, communication, education collaborated with digital media and this is a government program that has been started since this year for the next 2 years (2019-2021).
Yuliana R. Prasetyawati, MM Head of CAPRS said that China is one of ASEAN’s most active and strong dialogue partners. The Public Lecturer activity held at LSPR is one concrete form of cultural cooperation to promote culture between two Indonesian and Chinese countries. On this occasion LSPR students presented Pencak Silat to promote Indonesian culture to delegates from China, continued Yuliana.
