The opening ceremony of the third Chinese Arts Festival was held on August 3 in Sfax. [Photo/ccdy.cn]

In the theme of “culture unites us and brings us together”, the Sfax, Capital of Arab Culture 2016 started in July and will continue to next March. As one of its programs, the third Chinese Arts Festival opened on August 3 in Sfax.

Bian Yanhua, Chinese ambassador to Tunis, attended and addressed the opening ceremony, saying cultural exchange was a highlight of the Sino-Tunis cooperative relationship. During past years, high level art troupes from both sides exchanged many things, with fruitful results in aspects of culture, press, radio and television, which greatly deepened the mutual understanding for each other and promoted friendship.

The bilateral culture cooperation between Tunisia and China "never stops going forward by great steps," Tunisian minister of culture Sonia Mbarek said. “The 3rd Chinese Arts Festival gives Tunisia a propitious chance to reinforce its cultural cooperation with China.”

The friendship between China and Tunisia dates back more than 50 years and leads the way for frequent and efficient cultural exchanges, which bring the people of two countries closer, said Mbarek.