Senior officials and international guests attending the 8th Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo have called for enhanced cultural exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations against a backdrop of global divisions.

The expo, which opened on Sunday, is hosted by the Gansu provincial government. Themed "Strengthening Cultural Exchanges and Promoting Mutual Learning Among Civilizations", the event has brought more than 1,200 delegates from 97 countries and regions and eight international organizations to Dunhuang, the historical oasis city in Gansu province and a key hub on the ancient Silk Road.

Tie Ning, vice-chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and president of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, emphasized Dunhuang's historic role as a crossroads of civilizations, in her keynote speech at the event's opening ceremony.

"I hope the expo will inject deeper civilizational strength into promoting harmonious coexistence of civilizations and building a community with a shared future for humanity," she said.

Qu Xing, deputy director-general of UNESCO, highlighted the enduring relevance of the Silk Road in today's world while addressing the opening ceremony.

"In our contemporary world, fractured by the impacts of climate change and conflict, revitalizing the spirit of the Silk Road is particularly crucial. This spirit embodies the flow of ideas, openness to new knowledge and new friends, and the power of mutual respect," Qu said.

Aimed at promoting cultural exchanges and cooperation among countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative, the event has facilitated BRI co-development, promoted Dunhuang culture and increased the influence of Chinese culture since the first expo was held in 2016.

The ancient Silk Road, established over two millennia ago, facilitated trade and cultural exchanges between the East and West. Dunhuang, located at a strategic junction on the route, therefore became a melting pot of diverse cultures.

Kyle Dillingham, a violinist from the United States, is performing for the sixth time at the expo this year. He noted that this year, Gansu and the US state of Oklahoma are celebrating the 40th anniversary of sister-state relations. "It is my honor to help strengthen the friendship between Oklahoma and Gansu, as well as between China and the United States," he said.

"If not for the Silk Road, many musical instruments that originated in Central Asia would never have reached Europe and America," Dillingham said. "The Silk Road contributed to thousands of years of cultural and intellectual exchanges. To now be actively involved in shaping the future of the modern Silk Road is truly exciting."

Paul Craig, from the School of Advanced Technology at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, said that one of the key motivations for focusing on cultural heritage is to encourage the sharing of diverse cultures.

"It's fascinating to learn more about Chinese culture here at the expo, especially the different types of traditions and expressions, because people often tend to think of China as rather uniform," he said.

The expo, which runs through Monday, features multiple themed exhibitions, including displays on the research achievements of the Dunhuang Academy, international cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, intangible cultural heritage and fine arts.