A concert with a theme of the ancient civilizations along the Silk Road was staged on Sunday at the National Center for the Performing Arts to mark the second anniversary of the establishment of the Silk Road Chamber of International Commerce. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Zhang Quansheng, a matouqin (horse-head fiddle) player from the band Haya, was invited to perform Riverside of the Xin, which expresses the spirit of the Mongolian people living on the grasslands.

The concert drew a rousing ovation from the audience which were mainly representatives from 73 countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.

Kassem Tofailli, president of the Arab Chinese Cooperation and Development Association, said: "I'm totally immersed in this culture, especially this kind of music. I can even imagine the grasslands."