"As the key partner of China under the Belt and Road Initiative, the increasing cultural exchange and expanding cooperation play a positive role in connecting people and culture in both countries," he said.

Li Yi, deputy head of Xicheng district in Beijing, said the Chinese capital is bountiful in cultural resources, and it will strengthen the cultural links with countries along the Belt and Road route, taking the Chinese New Year celebrations as a platform to promote Beijing's history and culture overseas as well as to present China's drastic changes to the world.

Syed Junaid, joint secretary of the National History and Literary Heritage Division of Pakistan, said in his speech that China enjoys a long history and glorious culture, with rich experience in protecting its cultural heritage. China and Pakistan hereby share extensive potential and promising prospects with regard to cooperation on cultural and heritage protection, he said.

Through performances brought by seven inheritors of intangible cultural heritage from Beijing's Xicheng district, visitors to the exhibitions learned about the delicate Chinese folk arts such as maned figurines, painted snuff bottles, papercutting and others.

Over 140 representatives from governments, institutions, Pakistan-based universities and Confucius Institute, as well as major local media outlets attended the exhibitions.