Shanghai: India has been designated as a guest country for the first time in the 17-year history of the China Shanghai International Arts Festival, where an Indian culture week was inaugurated on Friday.

Named 'India in Shanghai', the culture week was inaugurated by Indian Ambassador Ashok K Kantha along with Vice Chair of The Standing Committee of the Shanghai Municipal People's Congress, Zhong Yanqun, said the Indian Consulate in Shanghai in a statement.

Leading government officials from Shanghai and neighbouring cities attended the inauguration, along with leading personalities from the field of art and culture, local newspaper and television channel heads, university members and think tanks, representatives of Chinese and Indian companies as well as leading members of Indian diaspora, the statement said.

The decision to include India as a guest country followed the high level of importance attached by the leaders of India and China on promoting people-to-people linkages and interactions, as well as strengthening cultural exchanges between the two nations, the statement said.

The best of contemporary Indian arts were showcased at the India Culture Week.

The event included dance performances by the Daksha Sheth dance group, Bollywood extravaganza, tribal music by Rajasthan Josh and an exhibition called 'Forms of Devotion'.

(Inputs from PTI)