Chinese dancers from Hunan province perform ethnic dances at the opening ceremony in Kyoto, Japan, Feb 18, 2017. [Photo/Chinaculture.org]

The opening ceremony for the 2017 Culture City of East Asia cultural exchange activities was held in Kyoto, Japan, on Feb 18.

Officials and representatives from China, Japan and Korea along with about 1,000 audience members attended the event.

Chen Zhong, deputy mayor of Changsha, addressed the opening ceremony.

"China, Japan and Korea are neighbors not only geographically but also culturally. The trio should deepen relations through enhanced economic cooperation and cultural exchanges," Chen said.

Each city brought performances to represent their culture at the opening ceremony, including ethnic dances, traditional Chinese music and drum operas from Changsha, music opera and Korean percussion performance from Daegu.

The activities will begin in China and South Korea in Changsha on April 18 and Daegu on May 8.

Launched in 2014, the East Asian City of Culture campaign aims to promote cultural diversity in East Asia, allowing the three countries to foster a mutual understanding and a sense of unity in the region.