Wuxi's International Cherry Blossom Week got underway on March 25 at Turtle Head Isle, with multiple Sino-Japanese cultural exchange events planned during the celebration.

A Wuxi government official addresses the opening ceremony and shows his appreciation for the achievements made in cultural exchange and mutual understanding between the two countries over the years. [Photo/wxrb.com]

Wuxi government officials and a Japanese delegation attended the opening ceremony, with both sides appreciating the achievements made in cultural exchanges and mutual understandings in the years gone past.

Since the 1980s, Japanese people and non-governmental organizations have planted cherry trees at Turtle Head Isle. In 1987, two Japanese friends, Sakamoto Keishiro and Hasegawa Kiyoshi, initiated a cherry planting activity in the park that has lasted for 28 years to this day, with a total of 16,000 Japanese visitors heading to Wuxi to plant cherry trees every year. The event has become synonymous with promoting good relations between China and Japan.

This year is the 29th consecutive year since 1987 that the Japanese delegation has visited the city of Wuxi to plant cherry trees, promoting friendly relations. [Photo/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

From 2014, the city expanded the event from cherry tree planting to multiple exchange activities in the fields of culture, tourism and commerce with regular attendance of the city's government and permanent Japanese officials.

This year's event launches a series of cultural demonstration activities including cherry tree planting, an artistic performance, a Japanese traditional music show, a Japanese gourmet lecture and dressing-up in Japanese kimono. The Japan Cherry Blossom Association has sent three generations of its "Sakura Queen" to Wuxi to participate in the event.

The Japan Cherry Blossom Association sends three generations of its "Sakura Queen" to Wuxi to participate in the event. From left to right: 4th Sakura Queen, 26th Sakura Queen and 1st Sakura Queen. [Photo/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

More than 20 Japanese overseas students in Shanghai have also arrived in the city to join in in various activities during the week with local university students, making the cherry blossom week a platform for the two countries' young bloods to develop cross-country friendship.