Following the Award Ceremony of the International Photo Contest “Youth Eyes on the Silk Roads” at the Peace Garden Peace Festival on September 21 in Beijing and the Photo Exhibition at the Beijing Peace Garden Museum that had lasted for a month and been widely appreciated by the international community, Dr. Li Ruohong, president of China World Peace Foundation (CWPF) and Beijing International Peace Culture Foundation (BJIPCF), led a delegation to Oman and jointly launched an exhibition tour for the International Photo Contest “Youth Eyes on the Silk Roads” in Oman’s capital city Muscat together with UNESCO and the Ministry of Cultural Heritage of the Sultanate of Oman. H.E. Mr. Hassan Mohammed Ali Al-Lawati, Minister of Cultural Heritage, and guests from more than 20 countries, including government officials, scholars and experts of culture, and representatives of various social sectors, attended the grand opening ceremony.

With the support of the Oman Royal Family and the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, the first stop of the exhibition tour would last there for one month. Li Ruohong delivered a speech after cutting the ribbon for the opening ceremony on behalf of various parties. He said, “Peace is the original aspiration and a dream of all mankind. The ‘Interactive Atlas of Cultural Interactions along the Silk Roads’ project and the International Photo Contest ‘Youth Eyes on the Silk Roasd’ jointly initiated by we and UNESCO aimed to enrich young people’s experience of the natural environment, cultural heritage, and social network through camera lens and deepen their understanding on the Silk Roads common heritage. The projects reflect cultural diversity from multiple perspectives and promote peace and friendship among the world’s citizens. The exhibition tour has become a media and new driving force for cross-civilization dialogue and sustainable development. Diplomatic efforts for public welfare, cultural and educational exchanges and social responsibility are the soft powers that support the dreams of all countries and the people-to-people connectivity.”

H.E. Samira Moosa Al-Moosa, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to UNESCO, emphasized the significance of the exhibition in his speech and delivered heartfelt gratitude to CWPF and BJIPCF for their strong support on the cause of world peace and international cultural transmission over the years. Dr. Ali Moussa-Iye, Chief of the History and Memory for Dialogue Section of UNESCO, said, “The Photo Exhibition Tour marks a good start and pushes forward the development of the ‘Interactive Atlas of Cultural Interactions along the Silk Roads’ project. It has facilitated cultural exchanges and the protection of intangible cultural heritage.” After seeing the exhibition, the visitors watched excellent performances by famous singers and orchestra from the UK at the Oman Royal Theater.

It is reported that after the tour, the Oman government will pass the baton to other countries in the Middle East, and UNESCO will jointly expand and develop the Silk Road civilization with the bidding countries.

Li Ruohong cut the ribbon for the opening ceremony on behalf of the organizers

Li Ruohong delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the Youth Eyes on the Silk Roads International Photo Exhibition Tour

H.E. Samira Moosa Al-Moosa, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to UNESCO, delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the Youth Eyes on the Silk Roads International Photo Exhibition Tour

Dr. Ali Moussa-Iye, Chief of the History and Memory for Dialogue Section of UNESCO, delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the Youth Eyes on the Silk Roads International Photo Exhibition Tour

Group Photo of some guests participating in the opening ceremony

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