Li Shulei Urges Artists to Advance China’s Cultural Goals
Senior Chinese official Li Shulei delivered a keynote address at the opening ceremony of three concurrent national arts congresses in Beijing on June 27, calling on the country’s musicians, dancers, and acrobats to play a central role in achieving China’s goal of becoming a “cultural powerhouse” by 2035. The event, reported by Xinhua News Agency, underscores the Chinese Communist Party’s continued prioritization of arts and culture as pillars of national development.
Three Congresses, One Vision
The 10th National Congress of the China Musicians Association, the 12th National Congress of the China Dancers Association, and the 9th National Congress of the China Acrobats Association were held simultaneously in Beijing, bringing together delegates from across the country. Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department, attended the opening ceremony and delivered the keynote speech, as People’s Daily reported.
Tie Ning, Vice Chairperson of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee and Chairperson of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles (CFLAC), also attended the opening ceremony, according to the CFLAC official website.
Key Themes from the Address
According to the official readout, delegates at the congresses affirmed that music, dance, and acrobatics workers have “deeply studied and practiced Xi Jinping’s cultural thought” in recent years, producing artistic masterpieces that “reflect the times and praise the people.”
Li’s speech emphasized four key priorities for China’s arts community:
The 2035 Cultural Powerhouse Goal: Li urged the arts sector to “anchor itself to the grand goal of building a cultural powerhouse by 2035” and to continuously meet the “spiritual and cultural needs of the people” while promoting the national spirit.
International Cultural Exchange: Artists were called upon to produce works “with Chinese characteristics that meet the needs of overseas audiences” and to “vividly tell China’s story,” playing a greater role in promoting cultural exchange and mutual learning between China and foreign countries.
Talent Development: The speech highlighted the need to “cultivate high-level leading talents” and nurture “grassroots, youth, and emerging field talents,” providing them with more platforms to engage in creative work and “new mass literature and art.”
Cultural Confidence: Delegates were encouraged to strengthen cultural confidence and further “inherit and showcase Chinese aesthetic style.”
The Three Associations
All three organizations trace their roots to July 1949, when they were founded in the early days of the People’s Republic. The China Musicians Association serves as a bridge between the Party, government, and the music community. The China Dancers Association represents over 10,000 individual members and 38 group members across provincial-level regions. The China Acrobats Association represents a performing art form considered a significant part of China’s intangible cultural heritage. All three are group members of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles.
Broader Context: The 2035 Cultural Strategy
The goal of building China into a “cultural powerhouse” by 2035 was first formally proposed in the CPC Central Committee’s recommendations for the 14th Five-Year Plan, adopted in October 2020. The vision encompasses significantly enhanced national cultural soft power, greater global influence of Chinese culture, and deeper integration of socialist core values into society.
Li Shulei, who holds a PhD in modern Chinese literature from Peking University and has extensive experience in cultural administration, has been a key architect of China’s cultural policy since his appointment as head of the Publicity Department in October 2022. According to his Wikipedia biography, he was elevated to the Politburo in the same year and has been actively involved in shaping the Party’s cultural strategy.
Analysis and Implications
The simultaneous convening of three major arts associations’ national congresses reflects a coordinated approach to cultural governance under Xi Jinping’s cultural thought, a guiding philosophy formally introduced in October 2023. The emphasis on international cultural exchange aligns with China’s broader soft power strategy, as Beijing seeks to improve its cultural influence and counter negative perceptions abroad.
The explicit mention of supporting “new mass literature and art” suggests a policy shift toward embracing new forms of artistic expression, potentially including digital and social media-based art forms. This could signal expanded opportunities for younger artists and grassroots creators within the framework of state-directed cultural development.
What’s Next
The congresses are expected to elect new leadership for each association and set policy directions for the coming years. Observers will be watching for specific initiatives related to international cultural exchange programs and the implementation of the “new mass literature and art” concept mentioned in Li’s address.
As China accelerates toward its 2035 cultural targets, the role of these long-established arts associations in mobilizing the creative community will remain central to the Party’s vision of a culturally confident and globally influential China.