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The 5th Asian Comics Summit held last year in Yokohama, Japan, passed
the baton to Zhengzhou, the capital of ancient Henan Province of China.
In order to promote a wider communication and cooperation among international
cartoonists, the organizers decided to invite participants from Asia,
Europe, America, Australia and Africa. Broadening the scope of attendees
by also opening up the event to cartoonists of all kinds, beyond the
comic book industry, laid the foundation for the organization of a truly
encompassing international summit.
The organizing committee held a planning conference from February 20
to 22 in Zhengzhou City. The participating national and foreign representatives
discussed, developed and passed the following plan for the 6th World
Comics Summit.
Purpose of the Summit
Aim: Solidarity, friendship and progress.
Purpose: To promote communication and cooperation of world comic culture;
improve the understanding, trust and friendship among cartoonists in
the world.
Origin and Name of Summit
The predecessor of the World Comics Summit is the Asian Comics Summit,
a seminar aiming at exchanging comics works and industry-operating experience
as put forward by Japanese cartoonists and hosted by cartoonists from
Japan, South Korea, and China including Hong Kong and Taiwan. The previous
summits received support from cultural organizations, media, civil aviation,
tourism and municipal authorities and was nicknamed as the Olympics
of Comics Industry. The events were held in Tokyo, Seoul, Taiwan, Hong
Kong, and Yokohama. Since the first summit was held in Japan with cartoonists
only from Asian countries present, the annual event has been expanded
and enriched in terms of scale and content. At the Hong Kong summit
in 2000, three non-Asian countries - the United States, France and Belgium
- expanded the horizon of the industry focus.
Subject of Summit and Topics of Seminar
Subject of Summit
"Comics of the 21st Century and National Characteristics"
A declaration on protecting intellectual industry rights will be discussed
and passed according to the directives of the 5th Summit.
Topics of Seminar
a. The role of comics in culture;
b. Current state of comics; animation production and development by
country or region;
c. Freedom of comics production
d. Digitalization of comics in the Internet age
e. Other
Time and Place
Time
Opening Ceremony: In the evening hours of October1, 2003
Summit/Exhibition: October 2-3, 2003
Sightseeing: October 4-5, 2003
Location
a. Main conference and exhibition halls: Henan Museum;
b. Opening Ceremony (International Concert or Party): Henan Provincial
Sports Center or Hotel Sofitel.
c. Central China Cartoon Festival: Central China International Exhibition
Center.
Activities
1. International Concert or the party (opening ceremony
for the 6th World Comics Summit)
Time: on October 1, 2003
a. International Concert
Location: Henan Provincial Sports Center (famous singers from China,
Korea, and Japan present)
b. Party
Place: Hotel Sofitel in Zhengzhou (performance with central Chinese
characteristics)
2. Seminar of the 6th World Comics Summit
Time: From October 2-3, 2003
Place: Henan Museum
Subject: "21st Century Comics and National Characteristics"
Discussion: Protecting Intellectual Comics Industry Rights
3. Exhibition of International Original Comics
Time: October 2-30, 2003
Place: Henan Museum (exhibiting about 2000 excellent comics works offered
by every country)
4. Animation & Cartoon Industry Fair
Time: From September 27 to October 1, 2003;
Exhibition: October 1-6, 2003
Place: Central China International Exhibition Center.
5.First Central China Cartoon Festival
In order to develop local comics culture the First Central China Cartoon
Festival will be hosted in conjunction with the 6th World Comics Summit.
Activities will include:
a. Invitational Contest of International Computer Comic Production (October
2-7, 2003)
b. Invitational Contest of Four-character Idiom in Chinese and Japanese
(October 2-7, 2003)
c. Performance of cartoon character actors and dancing on Huayuan Road
of Zhengzhou (Morning of October 2)
d. China Comics Exhibition at Henan Museum (October 2-30, 2003)
e. Chinese Comics Strip Exhibition at Henan Museum (October 2-30, 2003)
f. Award ceremony for the 4th China Strip Cartoon Prize at Henan Museum
(in the afternoon of October 3).
6. Sightseeing to Zhengzhou, Luoyang and Kaifeng.
Time: From October 4-5, 2003
Scenic locations: Shaolin Temple, Longmen Grottoes, White Horse Temple
and The Riverside Scene Park on Qingming Festival, and more.
The organization is undertaken by the International Cultural Exchange
Association of Henan province, China Association of Oriental Cultural
Studies, Henan Department of Culture and supported and co-organized
by WittyWorld International Cartoon Center.
The Organizing Committee includes some leaders of Henan Province.
Director:Wang Jumei (Vice-Governor of Henan provincial
government).
Deputy Directors: Chang Yougong (vice-president of
International Cultural Exchange Association of Henan Province)
You Qi (President of China Association of Oriental
Culture Studies)
Wang Lingqun (Vice-President of International Cultural
Exchange Association of Henan Province)
Secretary-General: Chang Yougong
Deputy Secretary-Generals: Wang Lingqun (Vice-President
of International Cultural Exchange Association of Henan province)
Dong Wenjian (Vice-Director of Henan Department of
Culture)
Wang Yongsheng (President of China Association of Oriental
Culture Studies, Comic Branch)
Hu Changguo (Deputy Secretary-General of International
Cultural Exchange Association of Henan province)
The organizing committee involves 11 departments, such as Department
of Secretary, Contacting Department, Beijing Office, Reception Department,
Exhibition Department, Marketing Department, News Publicity Department,
Security Department, Activity Department, Hall Equipments Department,
and Financial Department.
WittyWorld International Cartoon Center as a support organization is
represented by its president Joseph George Szabo (USA)
and foreign bureau chiefs Rolf Heimann (Australia)
and Patrick Gathara (Kenya).
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