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LANZHOU, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the first Silk Road International Cultural Expo, which began in the northwestern city of Dunhuang Tuesday.

On behalf of himself, the government and the people of China, Xi congratulated the expo on its opening day and extended a warm welcome to all the attendees.

Hailing the "glamorous Dunhuang culture," Xi said the host city was a major Silk Road hub where different cultures met and exchanged.

Also, noting that the ancient trade route was an important bridge that had facilitated friendly exchanges between the East and West more than 2,000 years ago, Xi said the Silk Road International Cultural Expo will provide an important platform for cooperation and communication among countries along the route.

Xi lauded coexistence, mutual learning, and cooperation and sharing in the cultural fields.

He said efforts to promote cultural exchanges and common progress are important to driving society forward.

He called for more cultural exchanges, promotion of cultural equality, protection of cultural heritage and cultural innovation, and improvements to cultural cooperation to "let more people benefit from the rich and colorful culture created by humankind to make the world a better place."