The 15th Asia Arts Festival, hosted by the Culture Ministry and the provincial government of Zhejiang, will be held in Ningbo, a coastal city in the province, from Sept 23 to Oct 23.

The festival's theme is the ancient marine Silk Road, and cultural ministers from China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam — countries along the Mekong River — are expected to participate in a forum, Chinese cultural officials said at a news conference on Tuesday in Beijing.

Mechanisms on future cultural cooperation in the region will be discussed at the festival forum, the officials added.

The festival also promises to gather artists from different parts of Asia for stage performances, cultural forums and fine art exhibitions, they said.