A High-Profile Interview on the Academic and Cultural Achievements of Tang Xianzu Was Held.

On October 25, the Tang Xianzu Academic and Cultural Summit Interview was held at the Rushui Forest Hotel. Liao Xiaoyong, a member of the Municipal Party Committee Standing Committee and Head of the Municipal Party Committee’s Publicity Department, delivered a welcoming address. Also in attendance were Wei Lingzhi, Executive Vice President of the Beijing Cao Xueqin Society and Associate Editor-in-Chief of “Cao Xueqin Studies”; Wang Changyong, Secretary-General of the Beijing Cao Xueqin Cultural Development Foundation; Zhao Li, Deputy Director of the Standing Committee of the Municipal People’s Congress; Liu Zhonghua, Vice Chairman of the Municipal Political Consultative Conference; and Wu Yun, Editor-in-Chief of the China Drama Publishing House.

Rao Wangjing, Secretary of the Commission for Discipline Inspection and Deputy Director of the Institute of Literature at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; Zhou Xishan, Researcher at the Shanghai Art Research Center; Wu Fengchu, Director of the Tang Xianzu International Research Center in Fuzhou; Research Fellow at the Fujian Provincial Institute of Literature and History Professor Zou Zizhen of the School of Humanities at Minjiang University participated in the interview.

In his address, Liao Xiaoyong pointed out that over the past decade, our city has deeply cultivated the academic and cultural legacy of Tang Xianzu, upheld exchanges and mutual learning, and striven to establish a new high ground for Tang studies while opening up fresh prospects for cultural development. The convening of this high‑level symposium not only represents a concrete follow‑up to General Secretary Xi Jinping’s 2015 initiative to jointly commemorate Tang Xianzu and Shakespeare, but also constitutes an in‑depth exploration of how Tang studies can drive economic and social progress in the new era. We look forward to using this forum as an opportunity to reinvigorate Tang studies through cross‑civilizational dialogue, and we hope that all experts will continue to serve as think tanks, focusing on cutting‑edge issues in Tang studies, exploring pathways for the living transmission of drama, and offering strategic advice to help Fuzhou become the “Capital of Chinese Opera.” We will persist in deepening the construction of the “Tang Studies Alliance,” promote more cultural exchange initiatives, and ensure that Tang Xianzu’s cultural heritage serves as a vital bridge for dialogue among civilizations. Furthermore, we will accelerate the translation of Tang studies research into practical outcomes, integrating its rich cultural essence into urban governance, industrial development, and public services, thereby truly achieving the goal of “cultivating people through culture and revitalizing the city with culture.”