Cable from the Chinese Embassy in Mali, ‘The Two Notes Given to China by Mali'

Cable Received by the Foreign Cultural Liaison Committee

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Urgent

From the Mali Desk

Received (64) No.

Year of the Bull

The Two Notes Given to China by Mali

[To the] Foreign Cultural Liaison Committee:

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mali has forwarded [to us] two notes [from the] Malian Arts and Culture Commissioner. [In the] first [they say they] hope we will send [experts in] wood carving, ivory carving, and jewelry making to Mali to teach at the recently established National Institute of the Arts. [In the] other note [they] request [that] we gift them with audio equipment and lighting for them to use in performances in Mali at this year's Youth Week.

The Malian Arts and Culture Commissioner personally requested [of me that]:

1) [China send] one wood and ivory carving expert and one jewelry expert to Mali to work for three years. [The expert's] responsibility would be to professionally train up talented [individuals] in Mali. [The expert would also] study traditional Malian handicrafts in order to [be able to] make recommendations for future development and improvement.

2) [That China send] audio equipment including a microphone suitable for large meetings, a large set of speakers and amplifiers.

[With regards to] lighting equipment [their request is for] several colored spotlights. We consider these requests to be of little difficulty. If an expert can come to their newly established Institute of Arts as a teacher, this would also be a good thing. At the same time, the Malians have formally presented [this issue] via diplomatic channels. [It would be] inconvenient for me to refuse. Therefore [I] suggest that [the relevant people] back in China respond as quickly as possible to the Malians' requests.

Furthermore, he also indicated that [this would allow them] to better introduce the folk stories, history, and music of Mali [to the world] and hopes that we would sell them a vinyl recorder so they can cut records on their own. We think it might be difficult to provide such a machine from China and wonder whether we can offer some help in cutting their own records?

Hoping for your speedy reply.

[Chinese] Embassy in Mali

18 February 1964