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Applying a little 'lipstick'

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-03-17 07:48

The cultural and creative industry may just be the "lipstick" bringing some much-needed gloss during gloomy economic times, suggested the Modern Times. Following is an excerpt:

In recent years, delegates to the "two sessions" have brought local features (especially food) to Beijing to introduce them to the nation.

But this year, Zhang Jianfei, the NPC deputy and the mayor of Changsha, brought along a series of TV and movie tapes shot in Changsha and took the opportunity to promote his city.

People often use the "lipstick effect" to describe the ability of certain industries to weather economic downturns. The cultural and creative industry is a prime example of an industry whose profits are not shrinking but growing during this hard time.

The cultural industry does not consume too much natural resources and is friendly to the environment; while segments of it, such as movies, attract more people during hard times. This gives it great potential to be one of China's future economic pillars.

In order to further develop the cultural industry, the mayor says sufficient investment and a healthy environment are both important.

And whether the government has the vision to support its development is also crucial.

(China Daily 03/17/2009 page8)