The two-day 2016 China International Friendship Cities Conference concluded at the Yuelai International Conference Center in Chongqing Municipality on Nov 11, a fruitful event which promotes friendship between China and the rest of the world.

A signing ceremony was held for three newly-twinned friendship cities to establish cooperation relationships. Jiangbei district of Chongqing signed friendship city agreements with Piacenza city of Italy to promote economic cooperation and culture communication. The other two city pairs were Shenyang and the city of Florida in Uruguay, and Hulumbuir in Inner Mongolia and Choibalsan, Mongolia.

Chinese government officials and foreign guests pose for a group photo before the 2016 China International Friendship Cities Conference in the southwest city of Chongqing, Nov 10. [Photo/Xinhua]

So far, Chongqing has established friendship ties with 37 cities and friendly cooperative ties with another 65 cities, which has improved the city’s opening-up and cooperation with the world.

Seventy-six foreign cities and 37 domestic cities were awarded honors, commending their active performance in promoting friendship city relationships between China and foreign countries.

Chongqing, host city of this year’s event, together with Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, Wuxi city and Fuzhou city has won the “special contribution award”.

The Yuelai International Conference Center in Chongqing Municipality shows foreign guest a beautiful view on Nov 11. [Photo/liangjiang.gov.cn]

This year the event was co-organized by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, China International Friendship Cities Association and Chongqing Municipal People’s Government. Some 600 representatives from 263 cities around the world attended the conference and exchanged ideas on the theme of “innovative development and cooperation”.

Started in 2008, the biennial event has been held five times. China has established 2,340 pairs of friendship provinces and cities with foreign counterparts so far.

The next China International Friendship Cities Conference will be held in Wuhan, capital of Hubei province, in 2018.

Edited by Owen Fishwick