The GDToday Salon & the launching ceremony of the "We @ Belt and Road" Children Painting Exhibition was held at Children's Palace Guangzhou on October 11.

More than 100 paintings painted by children from 14 Belt and Road partner countries were presented. The children painted the development in their countries over the past ten years since the cooperation was rolled out.

Sophia from Namibia and her painting

Chen Feng, a Member of the Nanfang Media Group Editorial Board, explained that the organizers started collecting these paintings in September. Children from Asian, European, and African countries who are currently staying in Guangdong Province participated in the activity. They painted iconic cooperative projects under the BRI, such as high-speed trains and ships, as well as cultural exchanges and friendships in different countries.  

"This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. International cooperation projects in the fields of finance, economy, transportation, and information, as well as people-to-people exchanges, have been promoted. Children are the next generation to keep the friendly relationship between countries. We hope they can deepen their understanding of each other better through the paintings and establish friendships when they are young," said Chen.

Wei Xiaoli, Principal of Children's Palace Guangzhou, addressed at the launching ceremony

Wei Xiaoli, Principal of Children's Palace Guangzhou, said that the event aims to establish a platform for children from the BRI partner countries to communicate and learn from each other.  

Suraya Pauzi, Consul General of Malaysia in Guangzhou, visited the exhibition

"I'm very happy to see Malaysian students and their works here. It really captures the Malaysian spirits," said Suraya Pauzi, Consul General of Malaysia in Guangzhou. She elaborated that the paintings reflect a diverse population in Malaysia.

Pauzi furthered that the BRI brings close cooperation between Malaysia and China. She took the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), Malaysia's mega rail project jointly constructed with China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), as an example, saying it is expected to create almost two thousand jobs in Malaysia in the railway and maintenance sectors. "The connectivity will also contribute to the trade and investment in Malaysia," she added.

Ade-Peters O'Oba Kingswill (left), President of the Association of Nigerian Community China, visited the exhibition 

Ade-Peters O'Oba Kingswill, President of the Association of Nigerian Community China, told GDToday that he was impressed by the paintings, and he believes people-to-people exchanges will promote the understanding between the Belt and Road partner countries. He also indicated that infrastructure projects invested by Chinese companies in Nigeria contributed to the local economic development.

Jean Michel Stanislas Garczynski, a French artist, said that he could feel the children's creativity and emotions in their paintings, which express their understanding of the world. He liked the paintings, and he thought the cultural exchanges were witnessed in the Belt and Road.

Ou Donghong, Vice Principal of Huamei International School, said more and more students from the Belt and Road partner countries have been studying in the international school since the BRI was unveiled. "They want to learn Chinese culture and make Chinese friends. We are so glad to see that these international students bring cultural diversity into our campus," she added.

The event was organized by the Guangdong Youth Federation and Nanfang Media Group, and supported by GDToday and Children's Palace Guangzhou. The Consul General of Malaysia in Guangzhou, the President of the Association of Nigerian Community China, the Minister of the Youth Department of Guangdong Communist Youth League, the Deputy Secretary-General of Guangdong Youth Federation, international artists in Guangzhou, and teachers and students from Huamei International School attended the event.

The "We @ Belt and Road" Children Painting Exhibition is ongoing and free for the public at Children's Palace Guangzhou until October 18.