The First Silk Road International Art Festival and the Third Arab Art Festival Shaanxi Section were opened in Shaanxi Province Art Museum, Northwest China, on Sept 12, Xinhua reported.

Yan Juanqi, vice-chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, Shaanxi Governor Lou Qinjian, and other officials representing Arab governments attended the ceremony.

The opening ceremony featured the China-Arab Cultural Heritage Exhibition in which Tunisian sculptures, Omani hand-made accessories and other items from Northwest China and Fujian province, a start point of the Marine Silk Road, were displayed.

The Silk Road Culture Chang’an Forum themed “New Silk Road, New Start Point, New Culture” was also held on the same day, providing a platform for scholars and artists from the countries along the Silk Road to conduct academic discussions. Songs and dance performances from China, India, Arab countries and African countries were also put on stage under the theme of "Silk Road Shortens Distances”.

Yan said at the forum that the Silk Road can improve people’s lives and drive the world’s culture and peace. She hoped Shaanxi can take the chance to make contributions for the construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt.

An official with the delegation showed her admiration for Xi’an’s cultural atmosphere. She also said that culture has a unique power to unite people, and since the Chinese government attaches importance to cultural development, there is no doubt that the Silk Road will link China with the world a lot better.

The festival, co-sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Shaanxi Provincial Department of Culture and Shaanxi Provincial Government, will continue to Sept 27. Countries along the Silk Road Economic Belt and the Marine Silk Road, and provinces of Northwest China, will all stage performances.

Source: China Daily