China will explore a new mechanism in international cultural cooperation and further promote exchanges and cooperation on cultural heritage, Vice Premier Sun Chunlan said Thursday.

Sun made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the third Silk Road International Cultural Expo in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province.

Identifying the expo as an important platform for cultural exchange and cooperation between countries along the Belt and Road, Sun said the expo had enhanced public and social support for the Belt and Road Initiative.

"China will continue to make full use of the platform, and deepen people-to-people exchange to enhance the mutual understanding and friendship between people of different countries," Sun said.

First proposed in 2013, the Belt and Road Initiative refers to the building of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.