The opening ceremony for the international children's painting exhibition My Asian Home: A Date with Shanghai was held on Aug 7 at the China Welfare Institute Children's Palace. The exhibition is hosted by the Shanghai People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, which is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year.

The exhibition is being presented in two phases. From Aug 9 through Sept 1, it is being held at the pop-up area east of the south entrance to Shanghai Library East. It will then move to the sunken plaza of the China Welfare Institute Children's Palace, where it will run from Sept 2 to Sept 30.

The opening ceremony was attended by consular representatives from various countries, as well as nearly 40 representatives from partner friendship organizations and award-winning young artists.

Before the opening ceremony, children from China and other countries jointly painted first-day covers themed around peace and friendship.

Indrananda Abeysekera, president of the Association for Sri Lanka-China Social and Cultural Cooperation, praised the initiative, saying it gives Asian children an opportunity to connect through art and express their hopes for peace, harmony and friendship.

Abeysekera said the paintings reflected children's hopes for a peaceful world, with some depicting economic prosperity and social stability. He called for similar exhibitions to be held in other countries, saying they could help people understand children's hopes and create more opportunities for children to connect.

Among the participants was 10-year-old Ngan Rou Xi of Malaysia. Inspired by her love of flowers, her painting The Blooming Garden combines flowers and landmarks from different countries, including Malaysia's national flower hibiscus and Shanghai's Oriental Pearl Tower.

She said she was particularly impressed by a traditional Chinese painting by a Chinese child at the exhibition, a style she rarely encounters in Malaysia.

The trip marked her family's first visit to Shanghai. Her father, Zen Ngan, recounted their visit to the Shanghai Animation Film Studio, where they were struck by the diversity of Chinese animation, including distinctive paper-cutting and ink-painting styles. He said international art exchanges broaden children's horizons and build their confidence.

For Abeysekera, the exhibition also offered another glimpse into a rapidly evolving Shanghai. Having first visited China in 1988 and traveled to Shanghai more than 20 times since, he said he had seen major changes in the city, particularly in infrastructure, people's lives, and international exchanges.

Shanghai has created more opportunities for young artists and students to showcase and develop their skills and to gain a better understanding of the world, he added.