Xie Jinying, director of the Bureau for External Cultural Relations of the Ministry of Culture, delivers a speech at the 9th China International Youth Arts Festival press conference on July 20. [Photo/Chinaculture.org]

Xie Jinying, director of the Bureau for External Cultural Relations of the Ministry of Culture, said thousands of young artists from around the world were attracted to the festival’s rich content and high-qualified programs. It enjoys a good reputation, because it not only pleases audiences in beauty, but also offers a platform for international cultural communication among youths.

Zhang Shuxin, deputy manager of the China Arts and Entertainment Group, briefly introduced the 9th festival. This year, he said, features of the Silk Road would be added to the festival's overall design as a response to our nation's "One Belt and One Road" initiative. Meanwhile, the opening and closing performances, themed "Inherit and Spread, Youth Silk Road", will aim to provide a high-standard platform for national arts communication and talents exchange along the theme of the "One Belt and One Road" initiative.

Tian Haojiang, a famous performance artist, has been invited to be the festival’s art director and will help 42 outstanding young singers from more than 20 countries give a fantastic and energetic performance, showcasing friendship along the Silk Road.

The China international youth arts festival committee has been exploring the cultivation and innovation of young art talents since the last festival brought us the China Youth Artist Project. This year's festival contributes to the project's ambition of fostering young artists, by cooperating with the Chinese College Students Music Festival and "iSING” Suzhou International Youth Singers Festival. Moreover, the newly designed "Asian Cultural Industry Youth Training Plan" and "Teenagers Performing Training Program of CPAA Theatres" programs will be promoted, accelerating the collaboration and prosperity of Asian Culture Industries by enhancing the youths’ cultural communication.