On 20 July this year, the 7th China Xinjiang International Dance Festival was officially opened in Urumqi, with creative groups from nine countries, including Turkmenistan, taking part. The festival brought together artists from Central Asia, Europe and Southeast Asia, creating a unique platform for cultural dialogue. This was reported by the IIC.

Turkmen performers had the opportunity to showcase the richness of their national dance art alongside groups from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, the United States, Italy and Cambodia. In addition to the main programme in Urumqi, festival events will be held in several cities of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, including the Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture and Hotan.

The organisers have prepared a rich programme that includes street shows dedicated to the Silk Road, an international dance carnival and a week of traditional opera. The festival, which has been held since 2008, has already become a significant event in cultural cooperation under the ‘Belt and Road Initiative’. Over the years, more than 130 groups from 70 countries around the world have participated in the festival.