The first Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo was held on September 20, 2016 in Dunhuang. President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter and extended warm congratulations to the convening of the ICIF. He expressed sincere welcome to the guests and friends of the countries attending the ICIF. Liu Yandong, Vice Premier of the State Council, read a congratulatory letter from President Xi Jinping and delivered a keynote speech at the summit. 95 delegations from 85 countries, 5 international and regional organizations were invited to attend, 66 foreign institutions, 434 foreign guests attended the forum, cultural annual exhibition and cultural performances, 23 domestic provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, and Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan regions The delegation has more than 1,700 Chinese and foreign guests attending the conference. Six foreign politicians and former political leaders attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches. The 23 ministers of culture and representatives attended the round table and discussed and adopted the Dunhuang Declaration.

The first ICIF was actively responded and generally supported by the countries along the route. It received high attention and wide acclaim from the international community. It achieved the goal of cultural integration, ideological integration and emotional integration. It achieved remarkable political, economic and cultural achievements and was widely praised at home and abroad. . The 85 countries participating in the competition competed to report on this cultural feast, and the world's major media participated in the report and gave high praise.

The first Dunhuang Cultural Fair closely focused on the theme of “promoting cultural exchanges, collaborating and developing”, with “discussion, exhibition and performance” as the main body, supported by sub-items, rich in content and diverse in form, with “Chinese style”. There is also an "international standard."