Highlights of cultural exchange activities in 2015

Actor and actresses perform during the opening ceremony of the 14th Asia Arts Festival & the 2nd Maritime Silk Road International Arts Festival in Quanzhou, Southeast China's Fujian province, Nov 8, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua]

The 14th Asia Arts Festival

The 14th Asia Arts Festival kicked off in Quanzhou, Fujian province in the November of 2015. The fair included 26 participating Asian countries.

The festival's theme, "Love for Asia, Dream on the Sea", reflects the pursuit of dreams set by the core of the Maritime Silk Road. The event highlights the "Belt and Road Initiative" and cultural ties among the historical path. Artists from countries across Asia represented their cultures through a wide range of performances that included dance, song, acrobatics, and traditional rituals. As a well-known international arts festival of Asia region, Asia Arts Festival not only shows a new and integral image of Asia to the world but provides more opportunities for the cultural communication between different Asian countries.

Sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, the Asia Arts Festival is the first international arts festival ever hosted by the People’s Republic of China. Since its inauguration in Beijing in 1998, there have been 14 festivals held in different Chinese cities up to now.