The China-Hai'an 523 Cultural Arts Festival kicked off in Hai'an, a county-level city in Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province, on May 23, local media reported.

The ceremony was attended by nearly 400 people, including Italian businesspeople and representatives from cultural communities in Shanghai, Suzhou, Nanjing and other cities.

The 523 Cultural Industry Park is part of efforts to boost the culture industry in the county. It serves as an important platform for the development of culture and external exchanges.

Since its establishment in 2009, the park has hosted over 50 high-profile art exhibitions and has been recognized as a national demonstration base for the culture industry.

Zhang Hao, deputy Party secretary of Hai'an, expressed hope at the ceremony that the event would promote the continuous growth and development of the park through collaboration with entrepreneurs and artists.

The event also featured the launch ceremony of the Belt and Road Initiative International Cultural and Art Festival.

Since the implementation of the BRI, Hai'an has seen nearly 30 enterprises invest overseas and reached agreements on 59 investment cooperation projects.

Following the ceremony, a special evening performance showcasing exotic folk music and dance took place.

The opening ceremony of the China Hai'an 523 Cultural Arts Festival. [Photo/WeChat account: gh_fcf610cf10c4]