Sino-Russian Culture and Arts Exchange Week kicks off in Harbin

The 2017 Sino-Russian Culture and Arts Exchange Week was held in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, on August 8. [Photo/Chinaculture.org]

The opening ceremony of the 2017 Sino-Russian Culture and Arts Exchange Week was held in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, on August 8.

Chinese and Russian artists delivered a series of performances at the event, including Russian folk dances and a selection of ballet, such as Swan Lake and Chinese folk songs.

Song Xibin, mayor of Harbin, addressed the opening ceremony, and said the cultural week established a platform for the mutual exchanges on culture and arts between the two countries. The event can further strengthen the friendship of the Chinese and Russian people, Song added.

"Cultural week has become an important event in Harbin," the mayor said.

"The city will be more international and friendly in the future."

Moreover, about 800 artists from China and 12 sister cities in Russia participated in the occasion. As well as themed performances, an oil painting exhibition, along with Chinese and Russian classic films, were on show during the cultural week.