On 20 September 2017, the 2nd Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo, jointly sponsored by the People’s Government of Gansu Province, Ministry of Culture of China, State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television of China, China National Tourism Administration, and China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, was opened in Dunhuang, Gansu province, China. Around 500 guests from 52 nations, 4 international and regional organizations and other sectors of China attended this event. Mr. Sun Jianhua, Deputy Director of Education, Cultural and Tourism Division of ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), was present as invited guest at the opening ceremony and relevant activities on behalf of ACC.

Mr. Tang Renjian, Deputy Party Secretary of the CPC Gansu Provincial Committee and Governor of Gansu Province, presided over the opening ceremony. Mr. Lin Duo, Party Secretary of the CPC Gansu Provincial Committee, delivered the welcoming remarks. He said Gansu enjoys a long history and profound cultural connotations. Through holding the Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo, seizing the great opportunity of building the Belt and Road, Gansu is dedicated to carrying forward the Silk Road spirit of peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefits, which will open up more development opportunities and deliver more benefits to countries along the route. Under the theme of strengthening cultural exchanges and cooperation, and promoting cultural innovation and prosperity, the 2nd Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo would feature six major themed activities, including Forum, Exhibition, Performance, Innovation, Trade and Tourism. Gansu will try its best to successfully hold this Expo, promoting the communication and integration of different cultures along the road, strengthening people-to-people bonds and the integration of thoughts among different regions, thus laying a more solid public opinion and social foundation for regional cooperation.

Mr. Luo Shugang, Minister of Culture of China, delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony, themed on Promoting Cultural Exchange and Cooperation, Creating a Better Future. He said that the key to good relations between states lies in their people who are close to each other. Mutual understanding, ideological identification, integration of ideas and emotional closeness are the basis of cooperation among nations. The Belt and Road Initiative proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping takes win-win cooperation as the core concept and conforms to the development needs of countries and regions along the Belt and Road, contains a major strategic vision of building a community of common interests, destiny and responsibilities. He said that the 1st Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo had been successfully held, during which the Dunhuang Declaration was drawn up, a consensus in terms of exchanges and cooperation was reached, and a number of exchanges and dialogues as well as economic and trade activities were carried out. Marked effects of these measures are now affecting and fuelling the development of the Silk Road. With a view to further strengthening cultural exchanges and cooperation among the countries along the Silk Road and promoting the people-to-people understanding, he proposed the following five suggestions: 1. Strengthening cultural and ideological exchanges and promoting world peace and development; 2. Respecting cultural diversity and promoting the prosperity and development of world culture; 3. Setting up cultural innovation consciousness and inheriting and carrying forward excellent cultural heritage; 4. Sticking to the road of civilization and harmony and moving towards the community of common destiny of mankind; and 5. Strengthening cultural exchanges and cooperation and promoting mutual understanding and trust.

Mme. Cui Yuying, Vice Minister of the State Council Information Office, Mr. Jiang Zengwei, Chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, and representatives from Greece, Niger, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Afghanistan also delivered speeches and remarks respectively. They mentioned that cultural exchanges and cooperation are of great importance to the building of the Belt and Road. Countries along the Silk Road all enjoy rich and colorful cultures. Attending the Expo could help these countries share cultural development achievements. The speakers also made constructive suggestions, from their own perspectives, on promoting cultural exchanges among countries along the Silk Road.

In the afternoon session, High-Level Forum on Innovative Pragmatic Cooperation Mechanism, Promoting Cultural Exchanges and Mutual Identification was held. Several participants briefed on their practices in promoting cultural development and industrial cooperation, made suggestions on building the Belt and Road and deepening practical and innovative cooperation. They hoped to take the Expo as a platform for further strengthening cultural and creative industrial cooperation.

Deputy Director Sun Jianhua and participants from several countries attended the welcome dinner and watched theatrical performance Along the Silk Road. He also discussed with other guests on building the Belt and Road and deepening ASEAN-China cultural cooperation

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