The conference explores how literature and art can play a better role in cultural exchange among the countries involved with the Belt and Road Initiative. Dance drama Five Stars Rise in the East, inspired by an archaeological discovery in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, tells a story happening on the ancient Silk Road.[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

On Aug 16, the 9th China Youth Literature and Art Critics West Lake Forum Tianshan Conference opened in Wujiaqu city, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. More than 150 guests, including around 80 literature and art critics from Xinjiang, attended the conference.

The conference’s aim was to discuss the experience of cultural exchange under the Belt and Road Initiative over the past decade, and to explore how literature and art can better play a role in cultural exchange among the countries involved in the initiative.

Xia Chao, president of the China Literature and Art Critics Association, said in a speech that the Belt and Road Initiative has not only contributed China’s wisdom and solutions to international cooperation and global governance, but has also become a vivid practice in advancing the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind.

“With an open heart, we can learn and borrow experience from excellent works of literature and art from around the world, while contributing our part to the building of the Belt and Road Initiative and a community with a shared future for mankind,” he said.

After the opening ceremony, seven academic guests delivered keynote speeches. In the afternoon, three parallel sessions were held for 50 literature and art critics to discuss a variety of topics grouped into three categories: literary theory, theater and film arts, and visual stage arts.

The China Youth Literature and Art Critics West Lake Forum was established in 2015 by the China Literature and Art Critics Association, the Literature and Art Criticism Center of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, and the Zhejiang Provincial Federation of Literary and Art Circles.