The China Cultural Centre, 217 Queen Street, Singapore.

The China Cultural Centre in Singapore was officially opened by Chinese President Xi Jiping and Singapore’s Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong on 7 November 2015.

On 15 November 2010, then Chinese Vice-President Xi Jiping and then Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong had officiated the Centre’s ground-breaking ceremony.

The Centre is part of efforts by China and Singapore to foster exchanges in the arts and cultures.

The new Singapore China Culture Centre at Shenton Way is under construction in progress.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong attended the new SCCC exhibition on 29 September, 2014.  The building is scheduled to be completed in 2016.

A New Horizon – In Celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the Establishment of China – Singapore Diplomatic Ties.

Marvelous paintings created in the search and fulfillment of dreams;

New horizon opened with ingenuity and originality.

A painting entitled “Hope” by Lu Qinglong

An art exhibition titled A New Horizon is held in China Culture Centre in Singapore, which indeed pictures fresh prospects of the two countries.  50 classicals by 25 Chinese artists and 25 Singaporean ones have been chosen to represent 25 years of firm friendship between China and Singapore, and to reflect the 50-year development of Singapore from a small country which lacked land and natural resources into a rich and prosperous one with great efforts.  In this case, the exhibition has a profound significance.

The relationship between China and Singapore runs a long history, with their people, culture and future gradually uniting together.  The “dreams” in A New Horizon involve “Chinese dream”, “Singapore dream” and “the world’s dream”, covering wishes of different people and countries in the past, the present and the future.  They are dreams to be peaceful and prosperous.  “New” in A New Horizon expresses the expectation of a new prospect, age and future.  Classic works from China in the exhibition are created by excellent artists of different age groups, embodying artistic dreams different generations have been pursuing.

Artworks have the power to fossilize the history, manifest the present and enlighten the future, as well as leading the trend to reflect our new era.  By means of art, this exhibition displays to the world a vivid picture about the yearning for peace, prosperity and a bright future of Chinese and Singaporean people. A new exploration and innovation has been made by artists of the two countries on expressing beautiful dreams in the form of beauty.

[Source: Singapore Chinese Culture Centre]

New Sanctuary

The Centre has a library on Level 6 which is opened to the public; with a collection of 40,000 books, mainly on history, culture and current affairs with a limited number in English.

Singapore Chinese Culture Centre Library Membership

Why is the library a sanctuary?

[Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore]

“This branch library in Queenstown is a milestone in our rising standards of life.  First, they provide a convenient access to book which most people cannot afford to buy.  Next, they are sanctuaries of peace and quiet where concentration and better work is possible, particularly when neighbours are inconsiderate.  This branch library marks one milestone along the road up the hill towards a more educated society.”

“One sign of an educated society is the number of books read by the people.  We have had universal primary education for over a decade.  Today, we have a literate society.  But a literate society is not necessarily an educated society.  One test of an educated man is his ability to continue reading and learning throughout his life.”

“Unlike countries in the temperate climates, our home have open windows.  They let in noise.  For some strange reason, most people insist that others in the neighbourhood should share their TV, radio, hifi, mahjong, or just loud conversation. Hence the need for a library”.

– Mr Lee Kuan Yew, Prime Minister at the opening of the Queenstown Branch Library on 30th April, 1970.

Founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and “Speak Mandarin Campaign”

The Speak Mandarin Campaign was launched by then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew on 7 September, 1979 with the aim of simplifying the language environment and improving communication among Chinese Singaporeans.

Singapore adopted a bilingual education policy in 1966, where English was promoted as a first language to ensure that the country would keep up with the global economy.  Besides English, students studied their respective mother tongues – Mandarin, Malay and Tamil – to remain in touch with their touch with their cultures and heritage.

这是一个由世界最优秀的政治家著述，关于新加坡落实双语及双文化理念成功的故事，深具启发性，为全球所有讲华语的人所必渎。

– 中国国民党荣誉主席连战

李光燿先生的这本书凊楚地说明了新加坡双语政策的发展是个很复杂的过程，困为它牵渉到人们的情慼，语言的功利以及社会政治等各个方面。书中第三章汫述的南洋大学的历史，便包含了这竺困素。

对我这一代的人来说，南大不只是一所大学，它还疑聚了东南亚华人的期望和理想。南大所代表的自力更生和团结就是力量的精神，超越了社会阶层和国界。

在南大这一章的结尾，李光燿先生肯定” 南大创立的精神”，认为它 ” 值得新加坡人珍惜并世代传承下去”。我完全同意。

– 南洋大学理事会前主席，大华銀行集团主席黄祖耀