Time marches on, and the year 2017 is coming to an end. This year has witnessed several impressive cultural events and trends. The cultural industry has been elevated to new heights and people's cultural confidence is further strengthened. Let's review the major cultural events that occurred this year.

Handmade mulberry-bark paper made in Xinjiang. [Photo/Xinhua]

1. Cultural Development Action Plan of the "Belt and Road" of Ministry of Culture (2016-2020) released

The "Belt and Road" has been one of the hottest topics in the first half of 2017 as China hosted the first Belt and Road Forum in May. China's Ministry of Culture also released the Cultural Development Action Plan of the "Belt and Road" (2016-2020) in January, with a special team set up to lead cultural communication and cooperation around the country. So far, China has signed governmental cultural agreements with all the countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.