An online forum themed on the symbiotic relationship between theater culture and city development was held Saturday in Taicang city, East China's Jiangsu province.

Representatives from member countries of the Silk Road International League of Theaters joined the event and together they shared their insights into how theaters can be best integrated into the overall development of a city.

Yoo In Taek, president of Seoul Arts Center, argued that theater is not only a landmark in a city to decorate the landscape, it also offers citizens a place to meet their spiritual needs.

"The main role of future theaters is to serve as a healing space" , he said.

Giuseppina Merchionne, president of The Belt and Road Initiative Italy - China Center of Collaboration and Cultural Exchanges, pointed out that theaters should take triple roles of culture, entertainment and education.

"In modern times, theater is closely linked with city culture, the role it takes should not stop at a venue for entertainment; it should become a medium to spread cultural values and facilitate liberal education among citzens", she said.

Marlene le Roux, CEO of Artscape Theater Center of South Africa, offered opinions on how theaters can optimize a city's humanistic atmosphere, display the uniqueness of a city, best integrate a city's art resources and give people spiritual pleasure. Le Roux insisted that there are not only artistic creations in theaters, the place is more about culture, the delivery of stories and the links between people. Theaters can unite people from different cultural backgrounds, languages and religions.

The event was initiated by the Silk Road International League of Theaters, and this is the first time the organization held an international forum in the Yangtze River Delta since its launch in 2016.

Initiated by the China Arts and Entertainment Group, the Silk Road International League of Theaters serves as a large multinational platform for performing arts, which aims to promote culture exchanges and improve artistic levels. By November last year, the organization had 130 members from 45 countries and regions across the world.