Anna Zhao

    Ann.whizh@yahoo.com

    SHEKOU in Nanshan District, Shenzhen, will be home to the first major museum of design in China by the end of 2016, according to a contract inked in London by China Merchants Group and the Victoria and Albert Museum (the V&A) in Britain on Tuesday.

    The signing of the contract was witnessed by Premier Li Keqiang and British Prime Minister David Cameron. The project is also the only cultural undertaking among the 14-billion-pound (US$23.7 billion) deals reached between the two countries Tuesday.

    The project is the first cooperation between a Chinese enterprise and a British public organization.

    Tim Reeve, chief operating officer of the V&A, called the cooperation an exciting and ambitious project for the V&A that will carry on the long tradition the museum has of working with China to share collections, knowledge and expertise.

    “By working with our trusted partner, China Merchants Group, we’re able to engage in a meaningful and financially sustainable way with one of the most dynamic design cities in the world at a time when China is emerging at the forefront of new design ideas and creative thinking,” Reeve said.

    Sun Chengming, vice president of China Merchants Group, said the museum is among the most important undertakings on the company’s agenda of reshaping Shekou. “We want to offer local residents an internationally important museum that will help promote the development of China’s creative industries and design expertise,” Sun said.

    He also said that the V&A’s wealth of expertise in the field of contemporary design museums and its deep understanding of Chinese culture would make the project a success.

    According to the agreement, development and operation of the new museum will be tended to by the China Merchants Property Development Co., a flagship real estate developer under China Merchants Group. Japanese architect Fumihiko Maki will lead his architecture sudio Maki to oversee its design.

    The V&A will have a dedicated gallery within the Shekou museum to display works from its collection and support the Shekou museum by offering training programs for the workers.

    The museum is expected to showcase China’s design strength to the world and promote international design.