Sun Zhijun, deputy head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said cultural exchanges are an important part of the relations between China and the United States.

Addressing the opening ceremony of "2018 Experience China -- Cultural Exploration of West China in the United States," which kicked off Friday evening in Houston, Texas, Sun said that cultural interactivities and dialogues will help improve the understanding of each other.

The one-week event focuses on cultural exploration of western China, which has been home to many ethnic groups since ancient times. Throughout history, occidental and oriental cultures have convened, collided and converged in the region, forming mixed culture and diverse art. The globally renowned Silk Road also finds its origin there.

Brian Lantz, senior executive of the Houston-based Executive Intelligence Review of the Schiller Institute, said that Texas has unique western culture in the United States. "Today here we are finding about China's west," he said. "I think it's a fun dialogue, each people learning about the other."

The event features a documentary Xinjiang Story which depicts the life of people from different ethnic groups in western China, a documentary Roof of the World which shows the harmonious daily life of those living on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, as well as an exhibition of photos, folk costumes and musical instruments presenting the cultural diversity in the region.

The 2018 Experience China in the United States is co-organized by China's State Council Information Office and Chinese Consulate General in Houston. The event is held from June 29 to July 5 in Houston and Miami, Florida.