Inspiring cultural confidence

As the National Museum of China celebrates its 110th anniversary, a letter from President Xi Jinping offers encouragement for a bright future in promoting the lessons of history, Lin Qi reports.

A world-class city should have world-class museums that preserve the best examples of culture and civilization.

The National Museum of China, located in central area of Beijing, claims to be one of the largest single-building museums and one of the most-visited cultural destinations in the world. Every year, it attracts millions of visitors who are amazed by the variety of objects in the museum's collection that keep alive the memories of the past and shed light on the journey of human civilization.

Celebrating its 110th anniversary this year, the National Museum views its goal of becoming the world's leading museum as being even clearer and closer than ever-especially with the enhanced motivation encouraged by a recent letter from President Xi Jinping.

Xi, who himself has visited the National Museum several times, sent congratulations to the staff members of the museum on its anniversary. In the letter he stressed better utilization of cultural relics to promote exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations and preservation of the fine accomplishments of Chinese civilization. He noted that museums are important places for the protection and inheritance of human civilization, and that cultural and museum workers have a glorious mission and great responsibility.

The president made the remarks in reply to a letter sent to him earlier by 10 senior experts at the National Museum discussing their work and studies.

The National Museum traces its history to the establishment of a preparatory office of the museum of Chinese history in 1912. Through the decades of evolution, the museum got its current title in 2003 by merging of the National Museum of Chinese History and the National Museum of the Chinese Revolution.

The museum has mounted a diverse program of celebrations throughout the year, including exhibitions and forums.

Xi's letter has generated enthusiastic responses, at the museum and outside, among administrators and experts working at different departments concerning cultural relics and museology. They gathered recently at the National Museum at a panel discussion on the letter and about how to better utilize cultural relics for the benefit of the people.

Wang Chunfa director of the National Museum says the letter offers great encouragement to all those working at the museum, and maps out the direction and routes of its development.

"The past 110 years have seen unremitting efforts made by generations of National Museum staff in achieving progress in terms of assembling an immense collection, carrying out research, mounting exhibitions, developing full-fledged public education programs, improving visitor services and increasing international exchanges," Wang says.