2015年是中英兩國文化關系史上具有里程碑意義的一年。這一年將是中英兩國間首個文化交流年，在此框架下一系列高水平的文化和創意活動將在兩國集中展示。

2013年12月英國首相訪華，見證兩國政府簽署新一期文化交流計劃；2014年4月在華舉辦的中英高級別人文交流機制二次會議以及同年6月在英舉辦的中英財金峰會都印證了兩國對文化關系的重視，中英文化和創意產業的交流與合作已成為兩國關系中的核心內容。2014年6月，總理李克強訪英時，中英兩國政府發表聯合聲明，宣布2015年為“中英文化交流年”，上半年英國在華舉辦英國文化季活動，下半年中國在英舉辦中國文化季活動。中英兩國將互相舉辦一系列代表各自文化藝術和創意產業最高水平的活動，并以此進一步加強兩國的文化交流和產業合作，推動兩國文明交流互鑒，增進兩國民眾間的相互理解和友誼。

“中英文化交流年”將分為兩個部分：3月至6月由英國大使館/總領事館文化教育處在中國舉辦主題為“新世代”（Next Generation）的英國文化季活動；7月至10月由中華人民共和國文化部在英國舉辦主題為“創意中國”的中國文化季活動。

數字媒體為中心打造英國季

“中英文化交流年”英國文化季將以數字媒體為中心，在全國打造極具創造力和突破性的跨領域當代文化藝術項目，著重展現當代英國文化創意產業的精華，形式包括音樂、電影、建筑、文學、繪畫……英國文化季的官網（www.uknow.org.cn）和官方微信“藝述英國”也已經正式上線，文化藝術愛好者可以隨時從網站和微信上了解正在進行的英國文化藝術項目，并參與到活動中，成為中英文化交流的見證者。

英國大使館文化教育處公使艾琳（Carma Elliot）女士說：“我們2015年的計劃充滿雄心壯志：我們將和主要的文創產業伙伴合作，并同廣大中英兩國人民及全球人民交流。2015年將是藝術文化主打年，是我們鞏固現有伙伴關系并建立新合作關系的重要機遇。”

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2015 UK-China Year of Cultural Exchange

2015 marks a flagship year for UK-China relations with the first ever bilaterally agreed UK-China Year of Cultural Exchange.

Underpinned by a government-to-government agreement set out at the UK-China Summit in London last June, the 2015 UK-China Year of Cultural Exchange will showcase the very best of UK culture in China and of Chinese culture in the UK.

The Year was formally announced when Premier Li Keqiang visited the UK in June 2014. It comprises two seasons of culture – a UK season in China from March until July, led by the Cultural and Education Section of the British Embassy; and a Chinese season in the UK in the second half of the year, led by the Chinese Ministry of Culture.

The UK Prime Minister’s visit to China in December 2013 (during which the UK-China Cultural Agreement was renewed), the High Level UK-China People to People Dialogue in Beijing in April 2014 and the UK-China Summit in June 2014 all demonstrate the growing strength of UK-China relations, with creativity and cultural exchange at the heart of developments.

The 2015 UK-China Year of Cultural Exchange provides a unique platform to strengthen ties between individuals, organizations and governments in the arts and creative industries.

Digital media at the heart of the UK season

Launching in March during HRH The Duke of Cambridge’s visit to China, the theme for the UK season in China will be Next Generation. It will see a carefully curated series of contemporary, adventurous, multi-disciplinary and innovative works, with digital media at the heart. Groundbreaking digital arts will push creative boundaries, whilst the launch of a major online arts portal ‘UK NOW’ in early March will enable audiences to engage through a variety of integrated platforms.

One highpoint of the UK season will be the GREAT Festival of Creativity in Shanghai from 2-4 March, exploring the role of innovation and creativity in commercial success, enabling Chinese and British industries to gain new insights, to network and to grow.

“The 2015 UK-China Year of Cultural Exchange is a unique opportunity to further deepen and strengthen the UK’s existing relationship with China across the arts and creative industries, and to build on long-standing foundations of mutual respect and appreciation for our long and rich cultural histories, which continue to inspire innovation and creativity,” said Carma Elliot, Minister, Cultural and Education Section of the British Embassy.

The UK season of the 2015 UK-China Year of Cultural Exchange is sponsored by IELTS. It is supported by Strategic Communications Partner, BBDO and Strategic Media Partners including China Daily, Phoenix Media, Modern Media Group, Tencent and Youku.

（來源：英國使館文化教育處，編輯 Helen）