President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the fourth Arabic Arts Festival, which closed Thursday in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province.

"The festival is an important event to improve understanding between Chinese and Arab people," Xi said in the letter congratulating success of the festival.

"China is willing to work with Arab states in improving cultural exchanges and cooperation to lay a solid foundation for developing the Sino-Arab future-oriented strategic partnership of comprehensive cooperation and common development."

Xi announced the beginning of the festival at the opening ceremony of the eighth ministerial meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum in July in Beijing.

In the past three months, the two sides have organized more than 20 cultural events in China, covering topics such as books, music, dance, painting and photography.