Opening ceremonies for the US-China Forum on the Arts and Culture kicked off the four-day event Wedesday evening at Beijing's National Centre for the Performing Arts.

United States ambassador to China Gary Locke and Grammy Award winning cellist Yo-Yo Ma gave speeches during the ceremony.

The forum's agenda includes performances and panel discussions on the arts, culture and the humanities, as well as screenings of Joel and Ethan Coen's Academy Award-nominated feature film, "True Grit". A special screening of Meryl Streep's upcoming film on Margaret Thatcher, "The Iron Lady" will also debut. Chinese cellist Yo-Yo Ma and musicians Chen Leiji and Wu Tong. Charles "Lil Buck" Riley will take to the stage for dance. Daytime events will include dialogue and panel discussion between the Chinese and American artists.

The Asia Society's Center on U.S.-China Relations and The Aspen Institute's Arts Program host the event to advance cultural understanding between the two countries.

Video: Sun Peng & Huan CAO
Voiceover: Chris Clark
Producer: Flora Yue