Government officials of Jiangsu province and Zhangjiagang, journalists from around China and local residents attended a ceremony marking the establishment of the Zhangjiagang Yangtze River Culture Foundation on Nov 1.

Officials from Jiangsu provincial government and Zhangjiagang municipal government attended a ceremony marking the establishment of the Zhangjiagang Yangtzi River Culture Foundation on Nov 1. (Photo by Yan Ziyang)

The foundation is the first in China that aims to “protect, develop and spread the culture of Yangtze River,” and it is also the first non-profit cultural foundation in Jiangsu province.

Zhangjiagang Yangtze River Foundation’s initial funding - from the local government and enterprises - totals 3,000,000 yuan ($491,700).

The foundation will allow the Yangtze River Cultural and Art Festival to be more dependent on social organizations - rather than on the government, and this will enable the festival to become a stronger platform for exchanges related to the culture along the Yangtze River.

Yang Fang, head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Zhanjiagang Municipal Committee, said that the foundation will allow the whole of society to gain an understanding of the culture along the Yangtze River and it will also “shoulder the historical responsibility” of promoting this culture.

By Wang Yifei

Edited by Niva Whyman