Yu Qun, member of the leadership of China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism, addresses the launch ceremony for the Silk Road International Alliance of Art Museum and Galleries at the National Art Museum of China in Beijing on June 19, 2018. [Photo provided to Chinaculture.org]

A launch ceremony for the Silk Road International Alliance of Art Museum and Galleries was held at the National Art Museum of China in Beijing on June 19.

Yu Qun, member of the leadership of China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism, attended the ceremony, along with 24 representatives of national galleries and art institutions from 18 countries related to the Belt and Road Initiative.

Yu extended his congratulations on the establishment of the alliance. He said cultural exchanges based on the spirit of the Silk Road is an important aspect of the Belt and Road Initiative.

"In the past five years, China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism has been devoted to the promotion of exchanges among art and culture institutions from countries related to the Initiative. The alliance is one such fruit from the exchanges. It will provide a platform for international art museums and galleries to communicate," Yu said.