The major forum of Silk Road Culture Forum in Chang'an, part of the first Silk Road International Arts Festival was held in Xi’an on Sept 12. Yan Junqi, vice chairwoman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) and chairwoman of China Association for Promoting Democracy, made a keynote speech. Bai Aying, vice governor of Shaanxi province, attended the forum.

Yan Junqi said that, as Xi'an was the starting point of the old Silk Road, Shaanxi province took the initiative and raised the developmental strategies to make Xi’an the starting point of the new Silk Road Economic Belt. The Silk Road, a road of prosperity and peace, is expected to be a driving force to boost economic development and cultural integration, and a connecting tie to promote regional peace and human civilization. Yan placed her hope on Shaanxi province, that it would seize the opportunity, give full play to its regional advantages, strengthen its ties with surrounding provinces and Central and Western Asian countries, and expand its cultural exchanges with Central and Eastern European countries. Shaanxi province should also promote the development of its open economy and cultural system and make more contributions to the construction of the "One Belt and One Road" program.

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