The 10th China (Guangzhou) International Performing Arts Fair and the First Silk Road International League of the Theaters Fair for Tourism, Performance and Investment was held in Guangzhou Opera House, south China's Guangdong province, from Nov 24-26.

As an important event of the 2019 Guangzhou Cultural Industry Fair, it presented nearly 1,000 shows in various genres such as puppetry, operas, dramas, ballet, and symphonies by 300 stage and tourism performing agencies from 30 countries and regions.

Attendees signed 56 contracts with an intended business volume of 320 million yuan ($45.5 million). The integrated development of culture and tourism has injected new vitality into Guangzhou's efforts to further develop its cultural industry in the years to come.

During a promotional event for new cultural products held on the sidelines of the fair, ten institutes directly affiliated to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism presented their classical shows and newly created artistic works to the audience.

For instance, the National Theatre Company of China staged Four Generations: One House or the Yellow Storm, and the War Horse (Chinese version). The China National Peking Opera Company brought the Women Generals of Yang Family, The Mountain of Cuckoos, The Legend of the Red Lantern, and Sister Jiang. The China National Theatre for Children presented its theatrical work Malan Flower.

Moreover, the National Ballet of China staged Crane Calling, Dunhuang, and Yimeng: A Ballet in Three Chapters, while the China National Opera and Dance Drama Theater presented its dance drama Confucius.

Meanwhile, 15 member countries or regions of the Silk Road International League of the Theaters sent delegations to the promotional gathering, in part to hold discussions over performance-oriented investments and cooperation.

Organizers of the fair also held a special gathering at which Italy was the guest country of honor. Giuseppe Acquaviva, artistic director of Teatro Carlo Felice in the Italian city of Genoa, Riccardo Coccinate, composer of the original Chinese musical Turandot, and Sylvia Casanelli, director of the international business department in Emilia Romagna Teatro Fondazione, were invited to talk about Italian musical dramas.

According to them, more cultural exchange activities will be held in 2020 to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral ties between China and Italy.

Apart from releasing information concerning the arrangement of cultural and performing arts activities in 2020, organizers also invited a dozen experts in the fields of opera management, artistic planning and program composition to share their views on performance tours and cinema operation, as well as artistic creation and identifying a main focus.

Zhang Li, chief director of the fair and general-director of the CPAA Theaters, said in an interview that the Belt and Road Initiative has built a platform for cultural exchanges between China and other countries and created a channel for Chinese culture to go global and allow foreign cultures to find their audiences in China. He continued that the fair will grasp opportunities and strive for a better future for China's cultural and performing arts.

"We will extend our consistent support to the fair and make full use of existing resources in the further improvement of its scale and influences in a drive to help all relevant countries develop a closer relationship, inject new blood into the development of Guangzhou's performing arts industry, and write a new chapter in the international exchanges of performing arts," said Li Jinsheng, chairman of China Arts and Entertainment Group Ltd.