" When the first camel team arrived in Syria through the Silk Road, a bridge between China and Syria was built." Dr. Saadullah Agha Al Kalaa , Syrian Tourism Minister, said at the inauguration ceremony of Syrian Cultural Week and Syrian Comprehensive Art Exhibition on June 22 in Beijing.

Chinese Cultural Minister Sun Jiazheng was the first one to deliver a speech to celebrate the commencing of the event. He said this is Syria's biggest cultural event with the richest content in China. The Syrian Cultural Week and Syrian Comprehensive Art Exhibition is jointly sponsored by cultural ministries of China and Syria. Bashar al-Assad, President of Syrian Arab Republic is in China now for a state visit.

Both Sun and Saadullah Agha expressed their hopes to make the Syrian Cultural Week an opportunity for Chinese people to have further understanding about Syrian culture and history. They believe this event will expand the cultural exchanges between the two countries with a civilization of long history.

Saadullah Agha warmly welcomes Chinese travelers to his country to see splendid cultural heritages and modern arts which embed the landscapes, people, life and feelings of people on that land.

The Syrian Cultural Week kicks off on June 22 and will last until June 29. Oil paintings, handwritings, pictures, handicrafts, and folk music from Syria are all on show.

By People's Daily Online