The 2020 Sino-Japanese Youth United Art and Painting & Calligraphy Exhibition opened on Dec 7 and held its awarding ceremony on Dec 9 in Fukuoka, Japan.

This year's exhibition, themed on the joint efforts made by Japan and China in fighting the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, received a total of more than 710 pieces of works from Guangdong cities including Guangzhou, Zhuhai, Shantou, Foshan, Shaoguan, Heyuan, and Dongguan. 

The number of works from Guangdong province accounted for over half of the overall number of works from China, setting new records in the numbers of participants, works, and award winners.

"Though the pandemic has suspended people-to-people exchanges, the friendship between the two countries has grown stronger by helping each other," said Chen Qiuyan, chairman of the Guangdong People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.

Chen added that the association, which is an important platform for non-governmental contact between Guangdong and overseas countries, has carried out cooperation with overseas friendly organizations, including those from Japan.

Chen expressed his hope that more youth can take active roles in promoting the friendship between China and Japan to create a better future for the two countries.

First held in 1998, the event has been held 23 times. Currently, it is one of the largest Sino-Japan youth exchanges events in Japan, gaining support from relevant government departments and leaders from both Japan and China, including Yukio Hatoyama, former prime minister of Japan.

One of the award-winning works from Guangdong competitors. [Photo/WeChat account: GZWS411665430]