GANSU PROVINCE, China -- World leaders, foreign diplomats, and tourism and agricultural attachés from more than 100 countries and international organizations have convened for the 3rd Silk Road International Cultural Expo at the Dunhuang International Convention and Exhibition Center on Thursday.
Sun Chunlan, member of the political bureau of CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, commended the “far-reaching” significance and success of the expo, not only in China but also the rest of the world.
“Over the past five years, 149 intergovernmental cooperation agreements have become the largest trading partners of 25 countries, creating more than 200,000 local jobs, achieving a win-win situation and sharing development,” Sun said. “Over the past five years, China’s cultural exchanges with related countries in the fields of education, science and technology, culture, sports, tourism, health, and archaeology have been increasingly deepened.”
Meanwhile, Lin Duo, secretary of the Gansu Provincial CPC Committee, said the Silk Road summit is an important symbol for cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries under the Belt and Road Initiative.
“(We) won the high recognition of the international community, and became the Belt and Road Initiative construction of the brand culture festival. I believe that with the participation and support of all parties, the Dunhuang Cultural Fair will definitely become better and better, and make more contributions for all,” Lin said.
Sarwar Danesh, second Vice President of Afghanistan, said the expo is an important opportunity to introduce the Silk Road to boost cultural exchange between nations and governments toward a more beautiful, diverse and harmonized world.
“This cultural expo enables the citizens of the relevant countries to better understand each other; to cooperate, participate in innovations, protect their cultural heritages and ultimately build a prosperous and advanced society through the revival of the Silk Road,” Danesh said.
Tomasito Umali, Philippine Tourism Attaché to China, and Ana Abejuela, Agricultural Attache to China, attended the roundtable forum on tourism and agriculture.
Umali said their participation in the Danhuang Expo is an exploratory visit with the goal of learning and creating mutual exchanges to help aid the country’s tourism, agriculture, trade, and cultural sections.
“We are here to observe and how to have a stronger tie-up with the Gansu province and Danhuang City in terms of cultural attractions and tourism because we feel that we can booth learn on how to preserve cultural heritage and promote tourism in a sustainable way,” Umali said.
A canvas painting entitled, “Ritual on the red field”, by Filipino artist Cristina Taniguchi, was among the 60 artworks from different countries that were featured in the “Star on the Silk Road - Exhibition of Art Masterpieces”.
Bannered by the theme, “Showcase the ancient Silk Road, promote people-to-people exchanges and build more beautiful and harmonious world”, the expo was hosted by the Gansu Provincial People’s Government, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism PRC, the National Radio and Television Administration, and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade. (PNA)
