Celebration for the 37th anniversary of the construction of the Sino-Japanese Cherry Blossom Friendship Forest takes place at the Yuantouzhu scenic spot in Wuxi on March 21. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
International and Chinese guests gathered at the Yuantouzhu scenic spot in Wuxi on March 21 to commemorate the 37th anniversary of the construction of the Sino-Japanese Cherry Blossom Friendship Forest.
Co-built by Wuxi and a Japanese civic group in 1987, the forest is now home to 300,000 cherry blossom trees, a remarkable increase from the initial 1,500 such trees.
Song Jingwu, former vice-president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, noted at the ceremony that the forest is a testimony of the friendship between Chinese and Japanese people.
Years of friendly exchanges and collaboration between Wuxi and Japan has promoted economic and social development on both sides, as well as mutual understanding between the two peoples, Song added.
Attendees plant a cherry blossom tree at the Sino-Japanese Cherry Blossom Friendship Forest following the celebration. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Shuichi Akamatsu, consul general of Japan in Shanghai, expressed his hope that the cherry blossom forest representing the friendship between China and Japan as well as the beautiful expectations it carries will be passed down from generation to generation.
To achieve this goal, he suggested exchanges between teenagers from the two countries to lay a solid foundation for friendship between the rising generations.
Zhou Wendong, vice-mayor of Wuxi municipal government, explained that Wuxi has forged economic and trade ties with over 220 countries and regions, and established sister-city relations with its counterparts in 28 countries.
Wuxi is expected to enhance its exchanges and collaboration with these friends in industry, trade, education, and additional fields to realize mutual benefits, Zhou said.
Signs hang on a cherry blossom tree with words expressing best wishes for the friendship between China and Japan. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Yutaka Shibata, president of the Japan-China Cherry Friendship Association, was awarded the Lifetime Honorary Award for the construction of the Sino-Japanese Cherry Blossom Friendship Forest, and 10 Chinese and international friends were honored the 2024 Wuxi International Cherry Blossom Friendship Envoy at the ceremony.
