KATHMANDU, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- A one-day painting exhibition by a Chinese artist was held here on Sunday, offering insight of Chinese arts to the Nepali art enthusiasts.

The exhibition entitled "Meet on the Silk Road: Xiao Ben Painting Exhibition" was hosted by Nepal Current Media and Research Center and Sinohydro-Sagarmatha Power Company.

At least 45 paintings of the Chinese artist Xiao Ben were put on display at the hall of the Nepal Academy of Fine Arts that reflected the rich Chinese contemporary art and culture.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Chairman of the National Assembly Ganesh Prasad Timilsina said that such events are important for strengthening the people to people ties between the two countries.

"More art and culture exchanges should be held to bring the peoples of the two countries closer," Timilsina said.

Stating that art is an identity of any nation, he expressed that such exhibitions can help the Nepali people understand China better and promote friendly relations.

On the occasion, Vice Chancellor of the Nepal Academy of Fine Arts Gopal Chitrakar said that the academy is proud to host the exhibition of a Chinese artist.

Xiao Ben, 40, from central China's Hunan Province, is a professional painter and a contemporary Chinese potter. According to the organizer, his paintings are widely collected by art institutions and collectors from China and other countries.

The artist said that his paintings are basically inspired by life, as he expresses hopes and love for life through the traditional Chinese brush painting. In his paintings, he highlighted Chinese beauty through Himalayas, rivers, flowers and swans.

"The life of Kathmandu has given me a special artistic resonance. Art always comes from life, and art is borderless," the artist said in his speech.

The solo exhibition was visited by Nepali artists, art enthusiasts, Chinese community living in Nepal and people from different walks of life.

"The displayed paintings are different from our regular Nepali paintings, seems they carry deep meanings," a fine-art student Nabin Joshi told Xinhua on the spot.