Roundup: China's Xinjiang glamour charms Iranians in week-long festival

A week-long Chinese cultural festival titled "2016 Experience China in Iran" wrapped up in Tehran Sunday, which charmed tens of thousands of Iranians and promoted the China-Iran cultural ties.

The event, titled "2016 Experience China in Iran," featured northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region through a photo exhibition, music performance and other cultural activities at Tehran's Niavaran Cultural Center.

The exhibition, drawn from the collection of major cultural items, offered a selection of local garments and musical instruments with a range of styles and cultural uses.

Thousands of Iranian officials, foreign diplomats, representatives of Chinese enterprises in Iran as well as local students, artists and people attended the one-week event.

On Monday, Chinese top political advisor Yu Zhengsheng sent a congratulatory letter to the opening festival, saying the event "will help Iranian people from all walks of life to understand a stable and harmonious Xinjiang with fast economic development, and further promote bilateral culture exchanges."

"China and Iran are both ancient Asian countries with splendid culture, and the two countries share a long history of friendly exchanges," Yu said.

"The two countries exchanged envoys as early as over 2,000 years ago, and have witnessed frequent exchanges in all areas, during which the two sides have developed profound friendship," he added.

Also, Cui Yuying, deputy director of China's State Council Information Office, said the festival is "the first comprehensive Xinjiang-themed cultural exchange event held in Iran by the Chinese government."

It aims to help the Iranian people know more about Xinjiang and feel the diverse culture in China, Cui said.

On Tuesday, a forum on the Silk Road Economic Belt was held at Niavaran Cultural Center, with its focus on the friendly exchanges and cooperation between China and the Islamic republic.

The Belt and Road Initiative would further advance the win-win cooperation between Iran and China, Iranian experts said on the sidelines of the forum.

The China-proposed initiative could promote interaction between the Iranians and Chinese and can be a turning point with win-win venture in bilateral ties, Mohammad H. Emadi, advisor to Iran's Agricultural Ministry, told Xinhua in an interview.

The Belt and Road Initiative is "a new paradigm and a turning point in the relationship between Iran and China and among all central Asian states," Emadi said.

The initiative, proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013, refers to building a Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. It is aimed at building a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along ancient trade routes.

On Wednesday, a garment industry cooperation seminar of China's Xinjiang and Iran introduced the important content of building Xinjiang as the core area on the Silk Road Economic Belt through developing the textile and garment industry.

The collection provided essential points of reference to culture lovers and researchers seeking to touch and interpret this cultural heritage.

For those who wanted to get their style with local and traditional dresses, the clothing line in the show was a combination of an assortment of ethnic beauties.

The embroidery on silk fabrics was a mix and match of needle work, stones and sequins.

"I came here to watch, but I was impressed with all this magnificence and tempted to empty my pocket," Sarah, a student of visual arts at Tehran University said, lamenting that there was no garment of the kinds for sale.

Besides, the visitors were immersed in the culture of music in Xinjiang, which has been developed incredibly over centuries and is present in every aspect of life of the people.

Integral to this was the tools and instruments with their unrivalled shapes, designs, and varieties. This is reflected both in the sounds they produce and in their purpose.

"Aesthetically talking, instruments have been made of precious materials with beautiful decoration which make them exemplary items," Mohammad-Tagi, the expert in culture industry, told Xinhua.

Through Monday to Wednesday, the live music performance represented Xinjiang as the land of song and dance, which echoes the strains from the Silk Road.

"I am very much interested in the expansion of Iran's relations with China, since it would benefit both countries and both nations," Mrs. Zariintaj Pezeshki, the housewife, told Xinhua on Saturday following a family visit to the exhibition. Endit