Brussels, 18/05/2009 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission and the Chinese authorities launched political dialogue on culture during the very first EU-China forum on cultural industries held in Shenzhen (China) on Friday 15 May 2009. The aim of this event was to reflect on how to foster cooperation in the cultural industries, while sharing mutually beneficial experiences in this area. Opened by Odile Quintin, Director General of DG Education and Culture at the European Commission, and Cai Wu, Chinese Minister of Culture, the forum brings together high-profile cultural industry experts and other culture professionals from both Europe and China. It was one of the highlights of the 2009 edition of the well-known International Cultural Industries Fair (ICIF) which takes place annually in Shenzhen. In addition to the exchange of experience in favour of developing cultural industries, the forum allowed debate on the importance of culture at the socio-economic level, in these times of crisis. The question of creativity and its contribution to the economy was also raised, within the framework of the European Year of Creativity and Innovation 2009 and new Chinese initiatives in this field, for example the national programme in favour of creative industries. China and the European Commission have begun dialogue on culture, with the signing of a joint declaration on 22 November 2007. The forum is the first concrete example of this new cooperation. (I.L./transl.jl)