A member of Japanese delegation interacts with Nantong primary students. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

An exhibition of paintings and calligraphy works by primary students from Nantong and Izumi, Japan, was unveiled at the First Affiliated Primary School of Nantong Normal College in Jiangsu province on Nov 25.

The exhibition showcased 77 artworks, including 26 by Izumi primary students. During the activity, Hiroyasu Tsuji, mayor of Izumi, presented awards to the participants from Nantong who won the Mayor of Izumi Award, the Speaker of Izumi Award, and other awards.

In the subsequent visits, Tsuji and his delegation visited the First Affiliated Primary School of Nantong Normal College, Zilang No 1 Primary School, and Experimental School Affiliated to Nantong High School. The Japanese mayor remarked, "Nantong has done an excellent job in talent cultivation and student education. I hope that in the future, Nantong and Izumi can strengthen exchanges in talent development."

Nantong and Izumi began interacting in 1983 and formally established a sister-city relationship in 1993. Since 1995, the Chinese city has been sending calligraphy works and paintings by local children to Izumi for exhibition every year and Izumi has also sent numerous educational and cultural materials to Nantong students for study reference.

The Japanese city has sent youth table tennis teams, soccer teams, and citizen choirs to Nantong for cultural and sports exchanges. In 2023, the two cities held student calligraphy work and painting exhibitions in their respective cities, with Shuichi Akamatsu, consul general of Japan in Shanghai, participating in Nantong.