ENCHANTING ART: Nanyin performance is inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list (WU SHOUMIN)

Which East Asia city has a long history and preserves the most splendid culture? Is it Beijing, Tokyo, or maybe Seoul? Instead of such mega cities, Quanzhou, Yokohama and Gwangju, representing China, Japan and South Korea, were each recently designated a Cultural City of East Asia 2014 respectively during the annual trilateral Ministerial Conference on Culture (MCC) in Gwangju on September 28.

"It is the first time for East Asian countries to select cities representing Eastern civilizations. The program is a part of joint action from China, Japan and South Korea to promote cultural prosperity in East Asia," said Cai Wu, China's Cultural Minister, in his address at the conference.

The three cities will host a variety of cultural and art exchange programs next year to enhance mutual understanding among their people.

The annual trilateral conference on culture was first launched in 2007. The Gwangju event is the fifth round of the series, with the last held in Shanghai during May 2012.

At the conference, Cai said that the East and West differ in history, culture and values, but that East Asia as a whole, especially China, Japan and South Korea, should take advantage of cultural and historical similarities to create a "shared East Asia value" and seek greater influence around the world.

Cultural ministers of the three countries first proposed the Cultural City concept during the third round of ministerial meetings in Nara of Japan during January 2011. The proposal was formally acknowledged by each country and written into the Shanghai Action Plan (2012-14) in Shanghai during April last year.

In May 2012, leaders of the three countries reached consensus at a summit meeting to strengthen trilateral cooperation on cultural development and exchanges, with Cultural City of East Asia becoming part of common efforts.

Quanzhou has caught attention after becoming the first Chinese city to win a Cultural City of East Asia award. However, such success did not come easily. In fact, a total of 10 Chinese cities vied for the honor over the past year. Many of these, including Xi'an, Suzhou and Hangzhou, are not only well recognized as important ancient cities, but also remain influential in China's growth today.

The competition involves a comprehensive evaluation of candidates in terms of history, intangible cultural heritage, and exchange of culture, as well as public service and infrastructure, said Huang Shaoping, Secretary of Quanzhou Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China.

"The city prepared for more than half a year before undergoing the expert panel examination. What is more, Quanzhou has been actively involved in protecting its traditional cultural heritage as well as improving facilities and building cultural brands," Huang added.

"Quanzhou's success reflects the deep-rooted cultural heritage of more than 1,000 years and the unremitting efforts made by people from generation to generation," he noted.

Throughout history, Quanzhou has acted as a port linking China and the rest of the world. As early as the ninth century, it served as a transportation hub between China, Japan and the Korean Peninsula. An abundance of historic records and evidence demonstrates that Quanzhou used to be a center of East Asian civilization.

Today, Japan preserves the most intact trade certificate issued by the Song Dynasty (960-1279). It indicates that Quanzhou was a major Chinese trading port that maintained close relations with ancient Japan.