Noticias
Mexico and Canada strengthen cultural cooperation ties
November 09, 2017In a meeting between María Cristina García Cepeda, head of Mexico's Department of Culture and Minister of Canadian Heritage, Mélanie Joly, a cultural collaboration between the two nations was discussed on issues such as indigenous languages, creative industries, the digital agenda and film co-productions.
The meeting held today, November 9th, was the first bilateral meeting between the two institutions to strengthen cooperation ties, almost a month after the official visit to Mexico of the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, invited by President Enrique Peña Nieto.
At the meeting, the secretary and the minister agreed to establish a joint agenda on Creativity and Culture, as part of the Mexico-Canada Alliance in order to further strengthen exchanges between the two countries and strengthen the contribution of culture to economic and social prosperity.
The head of Culture of Mexico was pleased to welcome her counterpart and address issues of common interest for the cultural development of their respective countries; she recognized Canada as a hospitable, welcoming and respectful country of cultural diversity.
“It is very important for the Department of Culture to share experiences and projects that we have developed; I am sure that from now on, after this meeting, we will strengthen ourselves”.
García Cepeda also congratulated the minister and delegation that accompanied her on the 150th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation, in whose celebrations the Department of Culture has participated through various activities, including the Canada Now Festival and the exhibition Snow, from the Canadian Museum of History.
She explained that the Canada Now Festival offers the best of contemporary Canadian cinema and is presented in collaboration with Telefilm Canada in the country's film circuit and will close its participation in the Cineteca Nacional, during the first quarter of 2018.
Regarding the exhibition, which is made up of historical and contemporary objects that will analyze the determining role that snow has played in the way of life of Canadians, Snow will be housed in the National Museum of Cultures from December 2017 until March 2018, and then exhibited at the Regional Museum of Anthropology, Palacio Cantón de Mérida, Yucatán, she said.
Mélanie Joly, pointed out that the friendship between Mexico and Canada is important, so confirming the ties of friendship and cooperation is relevant. She also expressed her support and solidarity with the people who were affected by last September's earthquakes.
She expressed her interest in different cultural topics, as well as pointing out that Mexico is a nation with great cultural potential, the gateway to Latin America.
Finally, María Cristina García Cepeda recalled that last October a Letter of Intent was signed between the Department of Culture and the Arts Council of Canada, as well as the signing of the Incentive Agreement between the Mexican Film Institute (IMCINE, for its acronym in Spanish) and pointed out that the Canada Media Fund (CMF) will sign to co-develop television series tomorrow, November 10th as part of the Los Cabos International Film Festival.
Secretary María Cristina García Cepeda was accompanied at the meeting by the Undersecretary of Cultural Development, Saúl Juárez; the Director General of the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), Diego Prieto; and the Director General of International Affairs, Jimena Lara.
Minister Mélanie Joly arrived with her delegation, which included Mr. Pierre Alarie, Ambassador of Canada to Mexico; Soraya Martinez, Senior Advisor to the Minister of Canadian Heritage; Christine Angelo, Director of Policy on Copyright and International Trade at the Department of Canadian Heritage; and Michael Bailey, Public Affairs Advisor at the Canadian Embassy in Mexico.
Mexico,Distrito Federal
