Jinan, capital of East China's Shandong province, was conferred the title of 2022 Culture City of East Asia at the 12th China-Japan-South Korea Cultural Ministers' Meeting on Aug 30.

The East Asia City of Culture program was first proposed by the cultural ministers of China, Japan and South Korea at the third ministerial conference in Nara, Japan in January 2011.

The program aims to promote regional cultural diversity and increase mutual understanding among the three countries.

Sun Shutao (L), mayor of Jinan, receives the official certificate for the 2022 Culture City of East Asia title at the 12th China-Japan-South Korea Cultural Ministers' Meeting on Aug 30. [Photo provided to english.jinan.gov.cn]

China's Jinan and Wenzhou, Japan's Oita prefecture, and South Korea's Gyeongju city were given the official certificates of the title at this year's ministerial conference.

The selected cities will carry out diverse cultural and tourism activities to promote cultural exchanges among the three countries.

Jinan, dubbed as a city of springs, is an important site for the inheritance and development of Confucian culture.

The city will promote traditional Chinese culture and work with selected cities to enhance people-to-people exchanges and practical cooperation in the region, said Sun Shutao, mayor of Jinan, at the awarding ceremony.

Jinan will also carry out a wide range of cultural activities and participate in cultural cooperation with East Asian countries, stimulate urban vitality, and expand the city's international reputation.

To date, 29 cities from the three countries have been designated as Culture Cities of East Asia.