Photo: Courtesy of the Guangzhou Daily

Media professionals from countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), who were also representatives of the first Silk Road Global News Awards winners, collaborated on a collective artwork on Wednesday in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong Province, as they promised to promote the long-lasting friendship among partner countries jointly building the BRI.

Guests from eight countries collaborated with painters from the Guangzhou Painting Academy to collectively draw the kapok, the city flower of Guangzhou. As per the instructions, they were tasked with drawing the stamen of the flowers and then signing their names in their respective languages.

The artwork was titled "Silk Road Flower Language," reflecting the delegation's sincere hopes for global friendship to flourish among partner countries as they work together to build the BRI.

"I'm so happy, for it's remarkable and memorable for everyone to sign on this paper," Gauhar Zahid Malik, President of the Pakistan Observer, told the Global Times on Wednesday. "I think this experience is really great. Through painting, love and bond with the BRI countries are expressed," he said.

Branko Zujovic, a journalist at Pecat Weekly from Serbia, told the Global Times that he shared the same feeling. "I feel nice because we did something together, and this unusual picture presents not just our names, but our friendship as well," he said.

The BRI guests were then invited to write the Chinese character Fu on a red paper, which means happiness and blessings. Although it was the first time for many of them to use the writing brush, they carefully followed the painter and completed their work with patience and enthusiasm.

"For me, it was a nice try to use the brush pen while experiencing Chinese culture," Yolaidy Martinez, former Chief Correspondent in China at Prensa Latina News from Cuba, shared her thoughts with the Global Times. "I think it is a way to become closer, and I wish everyone in the future to be as happy as I am right now," she added.

Nurzhan Kasmalieva, head of international department at Kabar News Agency from Kyrgyzstan, said that she hoped this painting would bring happiness to all the winners and finalists. "Besides, I sincerely wish that the blessings will be reached not only to us, but also to all the Chinese people, as well as all the nations in the world," she said.

The winners of the first Silk Road Global News Awards eagerly expressed their expectations for the future of the BRI. "I am fully confident in the development of the BRI, and the world will truly benefit from the fruits of coming into this big family," said Rogers Sabana, Chief Graphic Designer at CGTN Africa from Kenya.

"I'm sure that the future of BRI is bright, because many people and countries are now connected," said Mubarak Mugabo, Multimedia Producer at New Vision Printing and Publishing Company from Uganda. "We are connecting even more, through jointly building the BRI," he said.