An evening party featuring Indian dances was held in Xi’an city, Shaanxi province on Sept 17, to mark the commencement of the Second Silk Road International Art Festival.

Themed around the phrase “Silk Road Core, Chinese Culture, International Elements”, the festival was initiated by China’s Ministry of Culture and the Shaanxi Provincial Government.

The festival will run until Sept 21 and will contain art exhibitions, cultural forums, road shows, thematic activities and stage performances. More than 60 countries along the Silk Road Economic Belt the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, jointly known as the Belt and Road Initiative, will attend the event.

The Belt and Road Initiative was put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visits to Kazakhstan and Indonesia in 2013.