On June 20, 2025, the "Sister Cities Bond, Painting Futures Beyond: 2025 Sino-Greek Youth & Children's Art Exhibition (Tianhe, Guangzhou)" officially opened at the Haoyi Tianhe Comprehensive Service Center within Liede International Neighborhood (Hong Kong and Macao Community).
This exhibition aims to convey friendship through youth and children's paintings, further deepening cultural exchange and cooperation between China and Greece. In recent years, Tianhe District has been actively developing the Liede International Neighborhood, where the Haoyi Tianhe Comprehensive Service Center has become a vital platform serving local residents, expatriates, and Hong Kong and Macao compatriots.
Organized by the Tianhe District Government Office and co-organized by the Tianhe District Education Bureau, Liede Sub-district Office, Tianhe Children's Palace, and FUTURE LAB, the exhibition will run until June 27. Residents from China and abroad are warmly welcome to visit and experience this artistic scroll of friendship painted through young talents' eyes.
The opening ceremony gathered nearly 50 guests, including representatives from the Consulate General of Greece in Guangzhou, the Guangzhou Municipal Foreign Affairs Office, the Tianhe District Government, the young artists whose works were selected, as well as residents from China and abroad. Furthermore, the exhibition received warm wishes conveyed in a letter from the Mayor of our Greek sister city Lavreotiki, extending best wishes for the complete success of the event. Guests engaged in art-inspired dialogue to foster understanding, collectively witnessing this celebration of friendship and adding a beautiful new chapter to Sino-Greek exchanges.
Amidst warm applause, representatives from the Consulate General of Greece in Guangzhou and the Tianhe District Government jointly unveiled the exhibition, marking the official commencement of this artistic journey painted with the brush of young talents and the ink of friendship. Following the unveiling, Chinese and international guests mingled in free networking in the gallery space, filling the venue with the vibrant energy of cross-cultural dialogue.
Centered on the theme "Greece Through My Eyes", the exhibition showcases over one hundred selected outstanding artworks created by primary and secondary school students from Tianhe District. The paintings boast rich and diverse content, depicting historical landmarks like the Athens Acropolis and the Temple of Delphi, scenes from Greek mythology, and the stunning natural beauty of places like the Aegean Sea. With their innocent perspectives and vibrant colors, these young artists have produced imaginative and emotionally resonant pieces, expressing their unique understanding of Greek culture.
As Guangzhou's economic powerhouse, innovation hub, and urban showcase, Tianhe District is home to 55 foreign consulates general in Guangzhou and over 20 overseas chambers of commerce in South China (Guangzhou), signifying a high concentration of international resources. The district continuously expands channels for exchange with cities worldwide, enhancing the global visibility and influence of both Guangzhou and Tianhe itself. As of May 2025, Tianhe has established international friendly relations with 11 cities (districts) across 10 countries, including Nikaia-Agios Ioannis Rentis (Attica Region) and Lavreotiki (Eastern Attica Region) in Greece, achieving significant progress in international friendship and exchanges. Tianhe places particular emphasis on cultivating global perspectives among youth and children. Leveraging Guangzhou’s pilot schools for Education for International Understanding (EIU), education internationalization model schools, and international sister schools, the district systematically promotes EIU through programs like "Model United Nations" and the “Future Diplomats Program”. These initiatives focus on nurturing globally-minded youth equipped with interdisciplinary knowledge and a sense of social responsibility. Tianhe actively promotes the deep integration of aesthetic education and international education. Through diverse formats such as online art workshops and cultural theme exchanges, it continuously deepens cultural exchanges among young people, cultivating future forces for comprehensive international development.
Looking ahead, Tianhe District will continue to deepen exchange and cooperation with its international sister cities and districts. Committed to extending the concept of “Sister Cities Bond, Painting Futures Beyond” from artistic exchange to practical collaboration across broader fields like trade, technology, culture, and education, Tianhe aims to join hands with its global friends to share the opportunities of high-level openness and development.
Source | Foreign Affairs Office of Guangzhou
