Teenagers from Xiamen and the Sunshine Coast in Australia perform together. [Photo/xmqsng.com]

A photo exhibition celebrating 20 years of friendship between Xiamen and the Sunshine Coast, two sister cities in East China and Australia, is set to kick off during the China International Fair for Investment & Trade in Xiamen on Sept 8.

The event, which will open at 4pm at the local Xiamen Museum, will exhibit various photos fully unveiling the landscapes and exchanges between the two cities.

Jenny McKay, community and environment portfolio holder of the Sunshine Coast Council, will lead a delegation of local artists to the Chinese city to celebrate the deep and long-standing friendship that has grown over the past two decades.

McKay is an honorary citizen of Fujian province, where Xiamen is located, and has helped foster the bilateral relationship. She said she had witnessed the growth of the bilateral relationship with Xiamen and is looking forward to expanding and strengthening bilateral links.

The Sunshine Coast hosted soccer students from Xiamen No 2 Middle School last month who visited the region for the first time as part of the reciprocal Youth Football Cultural Exchange Program.