Minister of Culture?Luo Shugang (middle in the first row) and young sinologists who participated in the 2017 Visiting Program for Young Sinologists in Xi'an pose for a photo at the second Silk Road International Cultural Expo in Dunhuang, Gansu province, Sept?19, 2017. [Photo provided to Chinaculture.org]?

On Sept 19, 22 young sinologists from 18 countries who participated in the 2017 Visiting Program for Young Sinologists in Xi'an?visited Dunhuang in Northwest China's Gansu province for cultural exchange.

Minister of Culture Luo Shugang and the sinologists gathered together in Dunhuang on Sept 20 to exchange views on the program and to facilitate cultural exchange between China and other countries.

The sinologists expressed their appreciation for the visiting program and provided suggestions about improving cultural exchange between China and other countries.

Luo expressed the hope that through the program, a number of envoys of friendship between China and the other countries could be cultivated. Sinologists will not only spread Chinese culture to their own countries, but also carry their culture to China, so as to promote mutual learning between China and other countries. The Visiting Program for Young Sinologists is aimed at young people, with the hope of setting up a bridge between young people for cultural exchange.

During the next several days, the sinologists will participate in the second Silk Road International Cultural Expo in Dunhuang, visit places of cultural and historical interest such as the Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes and join in a workshop on Dunhuang manuscripts research and grotto protection.

The 2017 Visiting Program for Young Sinologists in Xi'an, held from Sept 7 to Sept 25, is hosted by the Ministry of Culture of China and organized by Shaanxi Provincial Cultural Department, Shaanxi Normal University and Center of International Culture Exchange. In total, there are 24 young sinologists from 20 countries coming to Xi'an to attend this program. At the end of the program, the sinologists' research papers will be compiled and published.

The Visiting Program for Young Sinologists was launched in 2014. This year, programs have been set up in Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an and Zhengzhou.