Visitors tour the exhibition area of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region at the Sixth Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo in Dunhuang, Gansu province, on Wednesday. TIAN XI/FOR CHINA DAILY

Only through better understanding of different cultures and strengthening mutual learning and communication can human civilization survive and thrive, officials and experts from China and abroad said on Wednesday.

They made the remarks at the Sixth Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo, which opened in Dunhuang, Gansu province on Wednesday.

More than 2,000 years ago, Dunhuang became an important crossroad on the Silk Road where ancient Chinese civilization and other civilizations in Asia and Europe met and traded.

The two-day event seeks to promote the Silk Road "spirit", and implement the Global Civilization Initiative, introduced by President Xi Jinping in March last year, and strengthen international people-to-people exchanges.

More than 1,200 representatives from over 50 countries and regions and international organizations are taking part.

Hu Changsheng, Party secretary of Gansu, said the Silk Road is a path for trade, civilization communication and building friendships.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative, which has helped promote the various cultures of countries and regions participating in it, strengthen communication and bring prosperity to the people, he said.

Dunhuang is a place where culture, thoughts, religion and art from different countries meet, and the unique Dunhuang culture and Silk Road spirit show the continuity, originality, inclusiveness and peacefulness of Chinese culture, Hu said.

Li Qun, head of the National Cultural Heritage Administration, said the BRI is a grand initiative full of wisdom that can offer common prosperity in the world.

China has signed cultural and tourism cooperation agreements with 144 countries participating in the BRI, and the Silk Road International League of Theaters, museum alliance, cultural festival alliance, library alliance and art gallery alliance are running smoothly and growing bigger, he said.

Bailamurat Gurbanov, deputy mayor of Ashkhabad, Turkmenistan, said Turkmenistan and China have the same dream of building a prosperous, interconnected world featuring diverse cultures and economic cooperation.

The expo is not only a cultural event, but can also strengthen ties dating back centuries and showcase the unique tradition, art and heritage to the world to create new economic opportunities, he said.

Jean Brunelle Razafintsiandraofa, vice-chairman of the National Assembly of Madagascar, said Madagascar was one of the earliest countries to sign the BRI memorandum with China and will continue to support the development of the initiative.

Under the BRI, the ancient Silk Road has become an important tool to promote the development of BRI countries and regions. It is an innovative and successful plan and African countries will continue to benefit from it, he said.

China has opened itself to African partners in the past several decades, and plays an important role in major infrastructure projects in Madagascar, and Chinese technology is helping Madagascar build major highways and advance in other areas, he said.