Cui Yuying, deputy director of China's State Council Information Office, gives a speech at the opening ceremony of "2016 Experience China in Iran-Cultural Exploration of Western China", Teheran, Iran, Aug 22, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

"2016 Experience China in Iran-Cultural Exploration of Western China", a large-scale cultural event, held its opening ceremony in Teheran, Iran, on Aug 22.

The theme of the 7-day event this year is Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

A series of cultural forums, dances, photo exhibitions, concerts and fashion shows about Xinjiang will be featured during this period.

Pang Sen, Chinese ambassador to Iran, Abbas Khamehyar, international deputy of Iran's Islamic Culture and Communication Organization, Ali Moradkhani, Iran's deputy minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, and some 500 Chinese and Iranian officials, representatives and envoys from other countries attended the ceremony.

Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, sent his congratulations on the event. Yu said the two countries have developed fruitful diplomatic relations with strengthening cooperation in their economies and culture in the past 45 years. And China's Belt and Road Initiative is now promising an even brighter future for the relationship.

He said Xinjiang, as a core economic district on the Silk Road, bridges China and Iran in Eurasia. The event will let Iranian people learn more about Xinjiang through a display of its culture and history.

Cui Yuying, deputy director of China's State Council Information Office, said "Experience China" aims to present both modern and historical Xinjiang and the diversity of Chinese culture to people in Iran. She also mentioned that such a cultural exchange related to Xinjiang was held in Iran for the first time.

Ali Moradkhani hoped that the cooperation and exchange between the two nations would reach a higher level, especially on the cultural front, with the support of the Belt and Road Initiative.

The event was organized by China's State Council Information Office, the Government of Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region and the Chinese Embassy to Iran.