Marciana Valdivieso, mayor of the Ecuadorian Pacific port city of Manta, introduces paintings created by children from her city. [Photo/Ningbo Daily]

The 2024 Ningbo International Sister Cities Children's Painting Competition Award Ceremony was held at the newly inaugurated Ningbo Children's Library on July 11.

The competition, which had a theme of green development, received a total of 1,015 painting entries from 15 cities in 13 countries across Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

Now in its fourth year, this competition has engaged a total of 25 cities from 19 countries, with nearly 3,000 submissions received. It has become a significant event for promoting youth exchanges between Ningbo and its sister cities.

Simultaneously, an exhibition showcasing 170 award-winning works from the painting competition was unveiled on the library's second floor. The exhibition is set to continue until the end of August.

Marciana Valdivieso, mayor of the Ecuadorian Pacific port city of Manta, a sister city of Ningbo, attended the event.

"Ningbo is an exceptionally beautiful city undergoing rapid industrial development," Valdivieso shared in an interview with reporters. She emphasized the coastal similarities between Ningbo and Manta, expressing that she felt right at home in the city. 

Regarding the painting competition, the mayor remarked, "This initiative will help youth from Manta and Ningbo to thrive. I firmly believe that the mutual progress and collaborative development of youth from both regions will undoubtedly pave the way for a brighter future."