KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 — The ninth Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo opened in Dunhuang, in China’s Gansu province, on Nov 3, drawing more than 1,000 participants from over 50 countries, international organisations and China’s Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions.
Held under the theme “Boosting Cultural Exchanges and Promoting Mutual Learning Among Civilizations”, this year’s expo features 18 events across seven categories, including exhibitions, performances and cultural experiences.
The parallel 2026 Dunhuang Forum comprises eight sub-forums covering Dunhuang studies, heritage conservation, and China’s cooperation with Central and South Asia under the Belt and Road Initiative.
Dunhuang, a historic hub on the ancient Silk Road where Eastern and Western civilisations met, hosts the expo as a platform for cultural exchange among Belt and Road countries.
Since its launch in 2016, the expo has welcomed nearly 10,000 delegates from more than 120 countries, according to a statement.
Participants said Dunhuang’s cultural heritage offers lessons for countries seeking common ground, mutual learning and peaceful coexistence. They expressed hope that the expo would continue to bring people closer and support mutually beneficial cooperation.
