BEIJING, June 9 (Xinhua) -- Since the return of Hong Kong to the motherland a decade ago, the influence of Chinese culture on the special administrative region (SAR) has grown and the Hong Kong people's sense of belonging to the motherland has become stronger, according to Minister of Culture Sun Jiazheng.

Sun said a series of "breakthroughs" had been made in cultural exchanges, such as the exchange of cultural talents and artists and cooperation on the development of cultural business.

The mainland has supported the SAR government in hosting a series of regional and international cultural activities under the principle of "One Country, Two Systems" while encouraging Hong Kong-based cultural institutions and individuals to sponsor national and international cultural programs, he said.

Over the past decade, mainland areas, excluding Guangdong, Fujian and Hainan provinces, had over 4,000 cultural exchanges involving almost 70,000 people. Guangdong alone had 3,455 programs in cultural exchange, involving more than 36,000 people.

In 2005, the ministry signed an agreement with the SAR government's civil affairs department to establish closer ties with the territory in the cultural sector, Sun said.

The ministry, HK's civil affairs department and the municipal government of Beijing have jointly sponsored student activities, he said.

Annual plans for cultural cooperation and exchange will be mapped out, he said.