Students visit an exhibition of the winning works in the "Beauty of China" painting competition, in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, Aug. 1, 2019. (Photo by Jeffrey Wong/Xinhua)

"I hope to travel to China someday, especially after reading so many books about it," said Syarifah Arianatul Zahran, one of the first-prize winners.

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- More than 400 students from 19 primary schools in Brunei have recently shown their best creative efforts for the "Beauty of China" painting competition, jointly organized by the Chinese Embassy in Brunei and Brunei's Ministry of Education.

The exhibition of the award-winning paintings, together with a prize-giving ceremony, was held here on Thursday and attended by Brunei's Deputy Minister of Education Hajah Romaizah and other senior government officials, school principals, teachers and parents.

After careful review, 70 winning works were selected including two top awards, three first-prize winners, five second-prize winners, 10 third-prize winners and 50 encouragement awards.

One of the first-prize winners is Syarifah Arianatul Zahran, a Year 4 mixed Malay-Chinese student, who told Xinhua, "I've never been to China, so I had to read a lot of books on China in order to create my painting."

"I hope to travel to China someday, especially after reading so many books about it," she added.

Chinese Ambassador to Brunei Yu Hong at the prize presentation ceremony thanked the participating students who not only showed their painting skills but also their understanding of China.

"Friendly cooperation between countries requires people's support and participation. The purpose of holding the 'Beauty of China' painting competition was to promote China among children," she said. "We hope children in Brunei know more about China, understand more about China, like China, and become supporters of the China-Brunei friendship."