Hundreds of young artists from around the world are set to descend on Tianjin in northern China next week to mark the start of the city's International Children's Art Festival.

The poster of the 2024 International Children's Art Festival to be held in Tianjin from July 22 to 26 [Photo provided to exploringtianjin.com]

The 2024 installment of the festival is to run in the municipality from July 22 to 26 and will bring 400 children from domestic art troupes together with 700 counterparts from over 20 foreign countries and regions.

With the theme of "Peace, Friendship and Future", this year's festival aims to inspire children worldwide to collectively build a better future for humanity.

The much-anticipated festival will feature children's carnival, a painting exhibition, art performances, tours of the Great Wall and the Tianjin urban area, art education salons, an unveiling ceremony for the International Children's Fun City, and a signing ceremony between Chinese and foreign schools which have sister relations.

Chen Shizhong, deputy secretary-general of the Tianjin Municipal People's Government, said he hoped participants will gain a deep appreciation of China's economic and social progress and its rich traditional culture. He also encouraged young participants to use the festival as a platform for strengthening cultural and artistic exchanges.

The festival is sponsored by the Tianjin Municipal People's Government and the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation, co-hosted by the Tianjin Municipal People's Government Foreign Affairs Office and the Tianjin Cathay Future Foundation.