The fifth culture ministerial meeting of ASEAN, the fifth culture ministerial meeting ASEAN- China, Japan, South Korea (10+3), and first ministerial meeting of ASEAN-China (10+1) opened here Thursday.

The meetings aim to promote arts and culture, preserve cultural heritage and develop arts and cultural industries in the region.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Singapore Minister for Information, Communications and Arts Yaacob Ibrahim said ASEAN has been working hard to expand its cooperation with the dialogue partners.

Over the years, there had been many exchanges between ASEAN and the dialogue partners in the areas of arts, cultural heritage, information and mass media. These helped enhance mutual friendship and understanding, he said.

During the first meeting of China - ASEAN (10 +1), Chinese Culture Minister Cai Wu and his ASEAN counterparts will discuss the establishment of the mechanism of China - ASEAN meeting of culture ministers, which will be the 12th ministerial meeting mechanisms between the two sides.

The Chinese minister will also discuss with his counterparts to further deepen pragmatic cooperation and priority areas of cooperation, and proceed to develop the "10+1 Cultural Cooperation Action Plan" and discuss other issues.

At the meeting of 10+3, Cai will exchange views with his ASEAN, Japan, South Korea counterparts on expanding areas of cultural cooperation.

Cai will also hold talks with Singapore Minister Yaacob on strengthening new cultural exchange and cooperation. The two sides will sign implementation plan of 2012 to 2014 inter-governmental bilateral cultural exchanges.

At the ceremony, Singaore, which hosted the ministerial meeting of ASEAN for the first time, was designated as the ASEAN City of Culture for 2012-2013.