20 activities to mark Sino-Arab cultural ties

The press conference of the 4th Arab Art Festival is held in Chengdu on July 16, 2018. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Twenty activities will take place all across the country, marking a new era in Sino-Arab cultural communication, said officials at a press conference of the 4th Arab Art Festival in Chengdu Museum in Chengdu, Sichuan province, on Monday.

These activities, under the theme of Connect with Road, Connect with Heart, including seminars, tourism forum and calligraphy exhibitions, will be held from July to October, among which 18 will take place in Chengdu.

Perceiving China, an exhibition of Arabian artists' works inspired by their travel in China over the past 10 years, showcased 45 exotic paintings and 19 sculptures to the audience.

Yu Jian, assistant to the director of Bureau for External Cultural Relations, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, said Sino-Arab cultural communication has achieved fruitful results since 2014. A total of 5,000 Chinese and Arabian artists have visited each other's countries through programs like Perceiving China and Sino-Arab Silk Road Cultural Tour, promoting counterpart corporation between 105 institutions which included 240 Arabian artists visiting China.

The art festival was organized by the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sichuan People's Government and the League of Arab States.