NEW YORK, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- A panel of diverse experts from China and the United States called for music education cooperation and exchanges between the two nations at a music forum here on Saturday.

The "U.S.-China Music Forum - Confronting Challenges and Looking to the Future" took place at the Lila Acheson Wallace Auditorium at The Asia Society on Saturday afternoon.

The panel featured Leon Botstein from Bard College, Chen Yi from the University of Missouri, Kansas City, Gary Ginstling from New York Philharmonic, and Yu Hongmei from Central Conservatory of Music, China. Jindong Cai from the U.S.-China Music Institute, Bard College Conservatory of Music, and Orville Schell from the Center on U.S.-China Relations, Asia Society, moderated the discussion.

Panelists underscored music's vital role in building bridges of understanding and collaboration between nations.

They emphasized that, in an ever-changing world, music remains a timeless bridge that connects hearts and minds, fostering understanding and empathy between cultures.

The discussion was followed by music performances by pipa virtuoso Liu Xiaojing from the Central Conservatory of Music and Anita Balazs, a cellist of the Bard East/West Ensemble.

The U.S.-China Music Forum is a novel addition to the China Now Music Festival, jointly launched in 2018 by the U.S.-China Music Institute and the Central Conservatory of Music of China.

Themed "The Bridge of Music," this year's festival is expected to conclude on Sunday.