CAIRO– A drawing contest under the theme: “I love panda,” just concluded in Cairo, with the participation of more than 500 students from primary, middle and high schools in the Egyptian capital.

The contest, hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Egypt and the Egyptian Education Directorate in Cairo, produced three first prize winners, nine second prize and 18 third prize, while 30 others received the prize of excellence.

“Such kind of contests help boost cultural communication between Egypt and China,” said Zynab Mohamed, deputy of Egyptian Education Directorate in Cairo, at the award ceremony.

Describing the drawings in the contest as “special and beautiful,” Zynab said that, the large number of participants reflected their interest in Chinese culture.

During the award ceremony, Chinese Ambassador to Egypt, Liao Liqiang, encouraged Egyptian children and teenagers, to “plant a mind seed of exploring China and the world, from an appreciative perspective of mutual learning and sharing” through the drawing contest.

“Giant panda is a national treasure of China and a symbol of peace and friendship,” Liao said.

Mohamed Yasser, a student in year five, who won the second prize, said, he searched on the internet for information about panda before starting his work, calling the experience “a very good feeling.”

Amro Hesham, a high school student, who was also a winner in the contest, said, he drew a sleeping panda under a tree, to show that the animal is a creature of peace and important for maintaining environmental balance.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK