Beijing is expecting more opportunities to enhance cultural cooperation and communication with Cuba and Mexico, according to Zhou Maofei, director of the Beijing State-owned Cultural Assets Supervision and Administration Office (SOCASAO).

Zhou made the remark during a visit to Cuba and Mexico on Oct 23-24, 2013. He was warmly received by local officials.

Julian Gonzalez Toledo, then Cuban culture minister reviewed cultural exchange between the two countries, particularly the performances by China Acrobatic Troup and the Cuba Ballet. He added that Cuba is looking forward to increasing cooperation with Beijing in culture, arts and design.

The cultural industry in Beijing had been developing very fast these years, said Zhou, adding that the SOCASAO was in charge of organizing and planning the city’s cultural creative industry development.

Zhou Maofei (L), director of the SOCASAO, visits the Havana municipal government.

He welcomed Cuban art troupes to perform in Beijing, and invited Cuban artists to exhibit and sell their works in Beijing.

Zhou visited Havana municipal government later that day, and met with the directors of International Department and Protocol Department. According to Cuban officials, Chinese industrial projects in Cuba have greatly promoted Cuba’s economic growth, and they also care about the cultural development in China, such as the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and Mo Yan’s winning the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Zhou said that he was glad to see various Chinese products inCuba, such as Geely cars and Huawei mobile phones. He said he hoped to enhance the cooperation and communications with Cuba, especially in cultural industry. Both parties agreed on more communications in the future.

On Oct 24, Zhou visited Mexican Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Education and Center of Culture and History. The two parties exchanged their experiences in art communications and business operation models. Mexican officials expressed their wishes to become the guest of honor for 2015 Beijing International Design Week, which was welcomed by Zhou. Zhou said he hoped Mexicocould make good preparations for being the guest of honor for the Design Week.

Zhou Maofei, director of the SOCASAO, meets with vice Minister of Culture and the director of the International Department of Cuba.