Katicomics featured as partner in Hong Kong’s “National Treasures” youth art contest

By KATE

Seated from left: SPO International Hong Kong Music & Fine Arts' Nguyen Bao Anh, Lewis Chan, and Katicomics' Bui Cong Hoan. Image: The Standard.

Hong Kong — Sept 27, 2025. Katicomics is pleased to share that the Shine Tak Foundation has launched a new phase of the 2025 National Treasures Drawing Competition & International Cultural Exchange—an international youth art program designed to foster cross-cultural learning through painting. The initiative will open global registration next month for young participants, with organizers signaling a focus on cultural understanding and creative interpretation of national symbols.

Backed by 14 diplomatic missions, the program’s supporting organizations span Laos, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, Türkiye, Belarus, Pakistan, Senegal, Iran, Dominica, Kazakhstan, Zambia, Guyana, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and Madagascar. This coalition reflects the initiative’s aspiration to bring together youth voices across regions and traditions.

Participants pose for a group photo at the memorandum of understanding signing ceremony of the 2025 National Treasures Drawing Competition and International Cultural Exchange in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on Sept 27, 2025. Image: Katicomics

Over the weekend, Shine Tak Foundation hosted a memorandum-of-understanding (MoU) signing with partner organizations from Laos, Vietnam, and Indonesia, marking the start of this new phase. The ceremony—attended by guests from consulates and partner groups—took place at the Renaissance Hong Kong Harbour View Hotel, underlining Hong Kong’s role as a meeting point for international cultural exchange.

Image: Katicomics

What the program aims to achieve

As described by the organizers, National Treasures aims to nurture national pride and cultural understanding among young people by inviting them to artistically interpret emblematic “national treasures.” The initiative emphasizes mutual learning, the values of peace, friendship, and harmony, and positions Hong Kong as a bridge connecting different civilizations. These goals were highlighted during the launch activities and in coverage of the MoU ceremony.

Katicomics at the MoU

Mr. Bui Cong Hoan—Founder & Chairman of Katicomics—took part in the Hong Kong activities and shared why the initiative resonates with Vietnamese youth. Below is his statement in full, as published by China Daily Asia:

“He believes the competition will be a good message to encourage Vietnamese youth, many of whom are familiar with Chinese and Japanese animation, to join other countries and enter a wider animation community to showcase their talent.”

The Standard also quoted Mr. Bui directly on youth participation:

“With our country full of youth now, this is a good opportunity for the young generation to participate in such an international competition. To commemorate the collaboration between Vietnam and other countries in the competition, Bui said 12 words in Vietnamese to mark the collaboration as China and Vietnam both have 12 animals to mark the zodiac year: "collaborations future, develop firmly, and forward to the future.”

Young people who wish to participate in the 2025 National Treasures Drawing Competition & International Cultural Exchange can visit its official website and register to apply before the end of this year.