The 11th China International Youth Arts Festival and 2018 the Belt and Road Tianjin Art Season debuted in Tianjin with an opening concert at Tianjin Grand Theatre on Aug 12.

The event, under the support of China International Culture Association, is jointly held by China Arts and Entertainment Group and Tianjin Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television.

The opening concert was a great start for the event. The Silk Road International League of Theatres, led by the famous conductor Tang Muhai, gave the world premiere to the audience. ISING! China International Youth Singer Team performed classic songs like I Love You, China with the accompaniment of the Silk Road International League of Theatres.

Launched in 2008, China International Youth Arts Festival is the first international youth-oriented cultural exchange activity led by the government in China.

Chen Chunmei, deputy Party secretary of China Arts and Entertainment Group, said: "This year marks the 40th anniversary of reform and opening-up. To better serve the major strategy of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Collaborative Development, and balance development of cultural market in the three places, the main venue of the festival was set up in Tianjin this year, in combination with a local grand event - 2018 the Belt and Road Tianjin Art Season."

This is the first time that the festival has set up its main venue outside Beijing.

In addition to the main venue in Tianjin, the organizers will also set up sub-venues in 17 cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Chengdu.

During the two-month-long event, 128 performances will be held by young artists and performing groups from 26 countries and regions including China, the United States and Russia.

According to Chen, the 11th festival not only retains traditional Chinese art forms such as local opera and crosstalk, but also covers more fine arts such as music, dance, drama, visual art and installation art, which are popular with young people.

The China International Youth Arts Festival will continue to build a broader platform for young artists to exchange ideas and enhance friendship between China and other countries.