Cultural exchange between China and Myanmar have a time-honored history. According to historical records, the two countries had cultural exchanges as early as in 69 A.D. In years of 97, 120, 130 A.D, in order to good-will towards China, Myanmar sent the diplomatic envoys to China for 3 times. Together with some Myanmar artists to performed music, acrobatic and magic shows etc in China. In China's Tang dynasty , during the 17th year of the reign of emperor Zhen Yuan (802 A.D), Myanmar Pyu country (by that time called) sent 35 artists led by Crown Prince Sunanda to China and performed in Tang dynasty's capital with 22 musical instruments. It became one of the great events in the history of Sino-Myanmar friendship. Up to now, Myanmar officials and people in the cultural circle have been dwelling upon this event delightfully. Buddhism culture exchange between two countries have about lasted for 1600 years. Nowadays, Myanmar Jade Buddha Image have been worshiped in many Chinese temples including Beijing Tuancheng temple, Shanghai Jade Buddha temple, Sichuan Mount Emei golden peak, Wutai mount Guangjimaopeng temple , Hangzhou Linyin temple.
After the founding the People's Republic of China ,the Sino-Myanmar friendship have been developing continuously with cultural exchanges also increasing daily. During 1960 Chinese National Day celebrations time a 400-member delegation of good-will composed by culture, art and film representatives led by Myanmar Premier U Nu visited China and held '' Myanmar Films Week Festival'' in Beijing. In January 1961 upon Myanmar Independence Day celebrations time, a 530-member delegation composed by culture, art and film representatives led by Premier Zhou Enlai visited Myanmar in return and held ''Chinese Films Week Festival" in Yangon. As two countries 'leaders led the great good will delegation exchanged visit, not only could fully reflect the ''Paukphaw'' friendship between two countries but also became a remarkable event in two countries' history of cultural exchanges.
Ever since the end of the 20th century , China and Myanmar have maintained high level cultural exchange and cooperation. In 1980 and 1985, Chinese Deputy Culture Minister Yao Zhongming and Culture Minister Zhu Muzhi accompanied by Chinese cultural delegation successively visited Myanmar. In 1987, Myanmar Deputy Culture Minister U Than Maung accompanied by Myanmar cultural delegation visited China. In 1990, Chinese Deputy Culture Minister Liu Deyou led a cultural delegation visited Myanmar. In May 1990, Myanmar Culture Minister U Phon Myint accompanied by Myanmar cultural delegation visited Yunnan province of China . In 1996, two countries signed the '' Protocol for culture cooperation'' . Then in the same year of October, Myanmar Culture Minister U Aung San accompanied by Myanmar delegation visited China. In 1997 ,Chinese Deputy Culture Minister Pan Zhenzhou accompanied by Chinese cultural delegation visited Myanmar. In August 1998, Myanmar Deputy Culture Minister U Soe Nyunt accompanied by Myanmar cultural delegation visited China . In June 2000, Myanmar Culture Minister U Win Sein accompanied by Myanmar cultural delegation visited China.
In October 1999, June 2000 and December 2001, Chinese Jilin province arts troupe, Guangxi acrobatic arts troupe, Heilongjiang province arts troupe and Yunnan province acrobatic art troupe successively visited Myanmar to perform and got welcomed by people of all circles. In September 1996, Myanmar arts troupes came to Beijing , Jiangsu for visiting and performing. Due to the invitation , in October 1998, May 2000, Myanmar arts troupe respectively attended the ''Asia Arts Festival'' and the'' Meet in Beijing , 2000'' get-together activity .
In 1955, 1994, 1996 and 2011, the national cultural treasure of China, sacred tooth relic of Buddha , came to Myanmar for 4 times and warmly welcomed by Myanmar government and people of all circles.
In the recent years, delegations of culture, information, sport of the two countries maintain continuous exchanges. Exchange and cooperation in culture between two countries have been further enhanced.
The two Ministries of Foreign Affairs in both countries have maintained good cooperation. Six rounds of Deputy Foreign Ministers' Consultations have been held since the two sides established the consultation mechanism in 1992. In 1993 China and Myanmar reached the agreement of mutually restoring consulates-general, and thus the consulate-general of Myanmar re-opened in Kunming that September and the Chinese consulate-general re-opened in August 1994. In 1997, the two countries signed "Agreement on Management and Cooperation in Sino-Myanmar Border Areas" and in 1998 signed "Mutual Exemption of Visas for Diplomatic and Service Passport Holders between the Chinese and Myanmar Government".
Cultural exchanges between China and Myanmar has long-lasted in history and become more frequent after the two countries established the diplomatic relations, among which one is praised far and wide when in 1960 U No led a 400 member delegation consisted of representatives from fields of culture, art, and movies to visit China while in 1961, a return visit was conducted by a 530-member delegation led by Premier Zhou Enlai. In recent years, cooperation in cultural fields is further enhanced with continuous contacts and visits of cultural, information and sports delegations. In 1996 the Ministries of Culture of the two countries signed the protocol for culture cooperation. In 1955, 1994 and 1996, the relic of Buddha's tooth----the national treasure of China were three times enshrined and worshiped under the request from the Myanmar side, which were warmly received by the Myanmar Government and all circles of people.
Hulunbeier Performing troupe of Inner Mongolia visited Myanmar
At the invitation of Culture Ministry of Union of Myanmar, a 29-member arts troupe from Hulunbeier city of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region came to Yangon and performed for Myanmar people from 28 January to 4 February 2004. Culture Minister Maj-Gen Kyi Aung of Union of Myanmar enjoyed the first performance and Deputy Minister Brig-Gen Soe Win Maung received the troupe delegates.
Working group of Education Ministry of China visited Myanmar
At the invitation of Education Ministry of Union of Myanmar, a 4-member working group led by Deputy Director- General Zhang Xiuqin of International Cooperation and Exchange Department of Education Ministry of China visited Myanmar from 18 to 21 February 2004. During the visit , they called on Deputy Education Minister U Myo Nyunt of Union of Myanmar, and exchanged idea which concern on exchange and cooperation in education field between two countries.
Chinese writers delegation visited Myanmar
At the invitation of Information Ministry of Union of Myanmar, a 5-member- delegation of Chinese writers led by Wang Chonglu , Chairman of Chinese writers association , Chairman of writers association for Liaoning province paid a good-will visit for ten days. They visited Myanmar from 10 to 21 March, 2004. During the visit , Information Minister Brig-Gen Kyaw San received the delegation . The delegation also visited Bagan and Mondalay .
Chinese journalists delegation visited Myanmar
At the invitation of Information Ministry of Union of Myanmar, a 5-member delegation of Chinese journalists led by editor member Liu Zhanmian of '' Farmer daily ''newspaper paid a good will visit to Myanmar from 1 to 7 April 2004. During the visit, Myanmar Information Minister Brig-Gen Kyaw San and Commerce Minister Brig-Gen Pyi Sone received the delegation.
Xishuangbanna arts troupe of Yunnan province visited Myanmar
At the invitation of Myanmar Information Ministry and Culture Ministry , a 34-member-Xishuangbanna art troupe of Yunnan province paid a good will visit to Myanmar for 8 days . They visited from 11 to 18 April 2004. During visit, they performed for Myanmar people and together enjoyed the Myanmar New year '' Water Festival".
CCTV shooting group visited Myanmar
At the invitation of Information Ministry of Union of Myanmar, a 4- member-CCTV shooting group came to Yangon for 5 days. During their stay in Yangon, they shooted and gathered materials , shooted and gathered news about the Myanmar New year ''Water Festival''. Moreover, they also interviewed Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Soe Win of the State Peace and Development Council , Minister for foreigner Affairs U Win Aung and Minister for Hotels and Tourism Brig-Gen Thein Zaw .
Myanmar writers delegation visited China
At the invitation of Chinese writers association , a 3-member-delegation led by U Chit Nainn, Director-General of Information and Public Relation Department of Myanmar Information Ministry , executive member of Myanmar writers association visited China from 20 to 29 April 2004. During their stay in China, they visited Beijing, Dalian, Shanghai and Nanjing .
China – Guangzhou Committee for bidding Asian Game visited Myanmar
At the inivitation of Myanmar Olympic Committee , a 7-member-delegation led by Chen Liangzhou ,Secretary – General of Guangdong province , Deputy Chairman of Guangzhou Committee for bidding Asian Game visited Myanmar from 22 to 24 April 2004. Brig-Gen Thura Aye Myint , Sports Minister of Union of Myanmar, Chairman of Olympic Committee received the delegation. The Myanmar side expressed that they could fully support Guangzhou's bidding for 2010 Asian Game.
Journalists delegation of Yunnan Province visited Myanmar
At the invitation of Information Ministry of Union of Myanmar, a 8 –member- Journalists delegation led by director Zhang Dewen of Information Office of Yunnan province visited Myanmar from 12 to 14 May 2004. During the visit, Information Minister Brig-Gen Kyaw San of Union of Myanmar received the delegation.
Chinese film delegation visited Myanmar
At the invitation of Information Ministry of Union of Myanmar, a 4 –member-delegation led by Secretary –General Liu Xiuwen of Chinese film delegation visited Myanmar. During the visit, delegation paid a call on Myanmar Information Minister Brig -Gen Kyaw San , exchanged with Myanmar film organization and Myanmar Motion Picture enterprise. More- over, they visited Bagan and Mondalay.
Myanmar arts troupe came to China and attended ''Asia Arts Festival''
At the invitation of Committee for holding 6th ''Asia Arts Festival'', a 20 –member-Myanmar arts troupe attended the ''Asia Arts Festival'' held in Beijing and Changchun. Prime Minister General Khin Nyunt of Union of Myanmar inscribed greeting words for the ''Asia Arts Festival'' .
Myanmar film delegation visited Myanmar
At the invitation of Chinese film association, a 5-member-delegation led by Managing director U Bo Kyi of Myanmar Motion Picture Enterprise of Information Ministry attended 13rd '' Golden Cock Hundred Flowers Film Festival'' holding in Yinchuan city of Ninxia Hui Autonomous Region from 13 to 22 September 2004. Myanmar film"Sacrigicial Heart"also shown on International films Shows.
Myanmar arts troupe visited Xishuangbana Autonomous Prefecture
At the invitation of the government of Xishuangbana Autonomous Prefecture , Yunnan province, Myanmar Culture Ministry sent a 25-member- arts troupe to Jinghong city of Xishuangbana Autonomous Prefecture to attend the 10th ''Border regions Cultural Arts Festival ''of China- Laos- Myanmar- Thailand-Cambodia-Vietnam 6 countries.