By He Jiayu

On 11 March morning, more than 40 foreigners from more than 10 countries including Poland, Canada, Britain, Japan, and Bangladesh and Nantong volunteers went to Suxitong science and technology industrial park, planted more than 120 zelkova and metasequoia seedlings together in the new developed International Friendship Woods.

As the head of primary school department of Nord Anglia School, William came to Nantong in last September. It was his first time to participate in events about foreigners in Nantong. He thought it was very meaningful. Chinese and foreign friends’ voluntary tree planting event initiated and held by Nantong foreign affairs office and information office of Nantong Municipality has been held for ten consecutive years. In total more than 1000 trees have been planted, which formed the International Friendship Woods with an area of close to 10 mu.

‘International Friendship Forever’ ‘Love you forever’ ‘Katsukawa Makoto, Goda Tomoko’… foreigners hang the name tags on the trees which they planted, wrote their names or blessings. The forest, the words are all achievements of domestic and overseas cooperation to implement green development. They are also everlasting witnesses of international friendship.

Mijanur Rahman from Bangladesh is a ‘long term Nantong resident’. Since 2017 he has been studying in Nantong Vocational College of Science & Technology and he speaks Chinese well, ‘I like Nantong. I like today’s event. It is an act of environmental protection. It also gave me a chance to communicate with people from other countries.’