The Silk Road International League of Theaters has been headquartered in Xicheng district, Beijing, deputy district director Xu Li announced March 27.

The ambassadors of Colombia, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Sudan, France and the Philippines in China attended the ceremony.

The Silk Road International League of Theaters was launched at the Tianqiao Performing Arts Center in Beijing in October 2016. Initiated by the China Arts and Entertainment Group, the largest State-owned company in China in the field of entertainment and arts exhibition, the league serves as a platform for performing arts that aims to promote cultural exchanges between China and other countries. 86 theaters from 32 countries and regions have joined the league.

"The league exists to promote communication, cultural sharing and exchange among member theaters. We will bring more international productions, especially joint productions by these international artists, with this league," said Li Jinsheng, president of China Arts and Entertainment Group.

An original opera, Marco Polo, based on the story of the Venetian explorer who traveled along the ancient Silk Road, will make its debut at the Guangzhou Opera House from May 4 to 6 and will be staged at Tianqiao on May 16, 18 and 19.

The opera gathers international artists, including Covent Garden's former artistic director Kasper Holten and Chinese conductor Tang Muhai.