Minister of Culture Luo Shugang gives a speech at the opening ceremony of the second Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo, Dunhuang, Gansu province, Sept 20, 2017. [Photo/china.org.cn]

The second Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo kicked off in Dunhuang in Northwest China's Gansu province on Sept 20.

Sponsored by the Gansu Provincial People's Government, the Ministry of Culture of China; the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television of China, the China National Tourism Administration and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, the expo has brought together more than 160 foreign guests from 52 countries and four international organizations.

Minister of Culture Luo Shugang gave a speech with the theme of "promoting cultural exchange and cooperation, creating a better future".

"It has been our top priority to deepen cultural exchanges and cooperation between the countries along the Silk Road, effectively promote people-to-people bonds and enhance the mutual understanding and trust among these countries," Luo said.

According to Luo, as of now China has signed more than 300 cultural cooperation agreements, memoranda, project execution plans and agreements with other governments on the mutual establishment of cultural centers with countries along the Belt and Road.

The Silk Road International Cultural Expo is currently the only all-around expo in China with the theme of international cultural exchanges among countries and regions along the Belt and Road.

The second expo carries forward the Silk Road spirit of "peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit". It features six major themed activities: forum, exhibition, performance, innovation, trade and tourism.

Gansu province is known as one of the key cradles of Chinese civilization, a "golden section" and hub on the Silk Road, and a place where the four civilizations of China, India, Greece and Islam converge.