The Silk Road Artists' Rendezvous, an art exhibit showcasing 87 paintings and ceramic pieces that reflect the cultural ties between China and Arab states by artists from both sides, kicked off on Monday and will run through the month at the Palace of Arts in Cairo, capital of Egypt.

The exhibition, co-organized by China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Egypt's Ministry of Culture, the League of Arab States and the Chinese Embassy in Egypt, is the achievement exhibition of the "Silk Road Artists' Rendezvous" visit to China, an important cultural exchange program carried out within the framework of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum.

More than 100 artists from 22 Arab states visited China on special invitations, and created nearly 500 pieces of art including paintings, sculptures and ceramic art works since the first edition of the event was held in 2009.

Multiple artists from China, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan and Algeria also attended the exhibition and showcased their artworks.

Some of the artists have become so inspired by Chinese art and culture that they have gone back again and again to learn and experience as much as they can.

"I have been to China four times and Chinese culture has inspired me a lot. There are many elements of flowers and birds in my paintings, which are common in Chinese fabric and silk crafts. There are also beautiful Chinese landscapes, which are all sources of my inspiration," said Leila Shili, a Tunisian artist.

"I am looking forward to further strengthening the cultural exchanges between Moroccan artists and Chinese artists, and I hope to see cultural exchange activities between the two countries being held in Morocco soon. This year marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries, and we look forward to holding various celebrations in Morocco," said Khalid El Bekay Rizky, a renowned artist from Morocco. A Sino-Arab Artists Dialogue was also held after the inauguration ceremony. Wu Weishan, director of the National Art Museum of China and also a famed sculptor, shared the inspiration he found in his Arab tours, and several Arab artists shared what they learned from their China visits over the last 10 years.