Note: This article was first published on the print version of the Fiji Times dated June 25, 2025
SUVA City Council represented Fiji at the recent ”Digital Culture Construction for Belt and Road Countries” seminar in China.
The two-week seminar focused on the integration of technology in culture and arts.
Delegates paid a visit to the Luxseven Museum of Jewelry Culture & Arts at the Shandong province, the only location in China containing masi exhibitions highlighting the provinces dedication to diversity.
Suva City Council IT representative Albert Wong expressed his gratitude when visiting the exhibition noting that it was comforting to have a glimpse of home in China.
“Seeing it here gave me a sense of comfort especially having our culture, our prints and our story being showcased for the first time ever in China,” Mr Wong said.
According to a representative of the museum, the “Masi, a cultural fabric of storying the life of an ocean people”, was launched in May this year and Fiji pioneered the diversity initiative by the museum, promoting and displaying diversity throughout the rest of China.
“This exhibition wouldn’t be possible without the collaboration from both countries,” he said.
“On May 15, this exhibition opened at the Luxseven for International Museum Day 2025 in Shandong, it was co-hosted by an Indigenous Ministry from Fiji, various cultural and arts departments including the Fiji Museum and our Qingdao Luxseven Fine Jewellery Museum.
“This is the first piece of Fiji to be showcased in China, making our museum unique and we’re proud of that,” he said.
The seminar is part of the Chinese Government’s broader strategy for international cooperation and networking among developing countries called the ‘Belt and Road Initiative’.
Mr Wong was selected by the Chinese Cultural Centre and the Chinese Embassy in Suva.
with a representative from the Inspur group during the Fiji
delegation’s tour to the Inspur head office in Shandong, China.
Picture: JOSEFA SIGAVOLAVOLA
