The International Symposium on Silk Road Traditional Music and Cross-Cultural Exchange took place at Henan University on the morning of 13 July.

At the opening ceremony, Vice President Zhen Tan, on behalf of Henan University, extended a sincere welcome to the experts and scholars and briefed them on the achievements of School of Music over the recent years. She said that studying the different music cultures of countries along the Silk Road is of great significance for a better understanding of cultural differences. She emphasized that it also helped promote exchanges and dialogues among those countries.

Siqi Wang, dean of School of Music, wished this symposium to become a platform for all experts and scholars to share their views on the traditional music in countries along the Silk Road so that we would contribute to academic exchanges and the promotion of "Silk Road Spirit".

Mei Xiao, president of the Association of Traditional Music in China and professor from Shanghai Conservatory of Music, congratulated the convening of the conference on behalf of the Association of Traditional Music in China.

At the Symposium, Yaohua Wang, former vice chairman of the Fujian Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, professor of the College of Music of Fujian Normal University, Professor Talimu Zhao, former president of the China Conservatory of Music, Mei Xiao, president of the Association of Traditional Music in China, professor of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, and Yang Xiang, the former director of the Institute of Music of the Chinese National Academy of Arts, Boyu Zhang, professor of the Central Conservatory of Music delivered keynote speeches.

This symposium invited more than 60 experts and scholars from China, the United States, Brazil, Italy, South Korea, and other countries to joined in 10 branch online and on-site venues from 13-14 July to discuss topics related to the Silk Road and China, the Silk Road and its history and traditions.