Chinese culture in spotlight on Silk Road cruiseliner

Children from Northwest China's Shaanxi province perform a folk dance during the opening ceremony of the Silk Road Stories program on board the Majestic Princess cruise ship in Rome, Italy, on May 21, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

ROME - A cultural program called Silk Road Stories made its debut on board the Majestic Princess, a new cruise ship that is making its maiden global voyage from Rome to East China's Xiamen city.

The opening ceremony for the program, which introduces Western passengers to Chinese culture, art, dance, food, and more, took place Sunday on board the gigantic 19-storey vessel, which measures 224 feet in height and 1,083 feet in length.

The program points to deepening Sino-Italian relations, said Chinese embassy's charge d'affaires Zheng Xuan at the ceremony.

Bilateral relations hit a fast track after a state visit to China by Italian President Sergio Mattarella in February, she said.

That was followed by Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni's visit earlier this month, when he attended the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing.