VALLETTA, July 6 (Xinhua) -- An exhibition titled "Art and Peace" featuring a number of works in various media, including sculpture and traditional Chinese painting techniques, opened at the China Cultural Centre in Malta on Friday.

Opening the event, Chinese Ambassador to Malta Jiang Jiang hailed the exhibition as a great opportunity for the people of Malta to get to know Chinese contemporary art and to celebrate art together with China.

"It is a unique way to send the message that China is committed to a world of peace and common development, and the effort to build a community with a shared future for mankind," Jiang said.

"It will promote the spirit of the Silk Road and build a bridge between the hearts and minds of the Chinese and European peoples," he added.

Liu Zhong, director of International Department of China Artists Association, said he hopes that this exhibition can enhance the understanding, exchanges and friendship between China and other countries along the "Belt and Road".

Chinese artists participated in the exhibition told Xinhua that they wanted the exhibition to build cultural bridges between East and West, especially between China and Malta.

One of the artists, Zhang Liang, explained her use of traditional Chinese painting techniques to portray Western cities was evidence of this. "I wanted more people to understand Chinese art," she said, "so I used Chinese traditional techniques to paint Western vistas."

"It is very refreshing, especially the variety of the artworks and the experimentation with different techniques. It seems the artists have broken through, innovating and not merely imitating Western art," said Iranian-born Maltese artist Lida Sherafatmand, one of the guests at the exhibition.

The exhibition will open to public until July 11.