Chongqing - In recent years, Chongqing has seized the opportunity to accelerate building the city into a Hub for International Exchanges in Central and Western China, continuously integrating and expanding foreign affairs resources.
The city has increased efforts to invite foreign entities and expand its presence globally. As a result, Chongqing's international network has grown, fostering broader exchanges with sister cities, solidifying partnerships, and paving the way for a broader path of friendship.
Chongqing established sister city relations with Hiroshima in 1986
On October 23rd, 1986, Chongqing established sister city relations with Hiroshima. For nearly 40 years since then, Chongqing and Hiroshima have carried out numerous friendly exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation. Since 2001, Hiroshima has designated October 23rd (the date of the conclusion of the sister city relations) as "Chongqing Day" every year and carried out a series of activities to publicize and introduce Chongqing to the public, which has greatly facilitated the mutual understanding between the citizens of the two places.
Hiroshima hosts a series of activities on 'Chongqing Day' to introduce Chongqing. (Photo/Foreign Affairs Office of Chongqing Municipal People's Government)
Hiroshima is located southwest of Honshu, Japan, facing the Seto Inland Sea. With its long history, rich natural resources, thriving agriculture and fishing industry, and well-developed manufacturing and retailing industries, Hiroshima has developed into the largest city in the western region of Honshu, Japan. It is one of the most famous industrial cities in Western Japan.
The scenic view of Hiroshima. (Photo/Foreign Affairs Office of Chongqing Municipal People's Government)
"Commemorative album" of connection
Since the establishment of the sister city relations, Chongqing and Hiroshima have carried out many cultural exchanges and cooperation, and the results of cultural exchanges in the garden are remarkable.
In 1991, to commemorate the 5th anniversary of the sister city relations between Chongqing and Hiroshima, the two cities jointly constructed a Japanese-style garden, Hiroshima Garden, in Eling Park of Chongqing, which has a quiet style and varied scenery. In 1992, the two cities jointly constructed a Chinese-style garden, Yuhua Garden, in Central Park of Hiroshima, based on the design plan gifted by Chongqing. In 2011, Hiroshima actively participated in the 8th China (Chongqing) International Garden Expo and built a 1,000-square-meter "Hiroshima Garden".
In addition, in October 2006, a series of activities to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Chongqing-Hiroshima friendship was held in Chongqing. The two cities signed the Memorandum of Understanding between Chongqing and Hiroshima on Further Strengthening Sister City Relations. They organized a wealth of activities, such as planting friendship trees and citizen exchanges. More than 100 members of the Hiroshima delegation visited Chongqing and experienced the charm of the mountain city.
During the 'Chongqing-Hiroshima 20th Anniversary Friendship Series Commemorative Activities,' citizens from both cities engage in exchanges. (Photo/Foreign Affairs Office of Chongqing Municipal People's Government)
Regarding personnel exchanges, Chongqing has repeatedly dispatched international exchange officers to the Hiroshima City Government to engage in international exchanges to promote broader civic exchanges and enhance Hiroshima citizens' understanding of Chongqing. The mayor of Hiroshima City also sent a blessing video for the 2020 Smart China Expo Online.
In agricultural cooperation, the two sides exchanged vegetable seedlings and cultivated fresh, high-quality vegetables suitable for growing in their cities.
In addition, the two cities have engaged in extensive and profound exchanges and cooperation in economy, technology, culture, education, sports, and health, achieving practical and efficient results.
Regarding economic and technical cooperation, Chongqing has sent technicians to Hiroshima to study environmental protection, municipal affairs, medical care, agriculture, and other fields.
The China-Japan Acid Rain Research Center was established in Chongqing. The two cities have collaborated on research related to the corrosion and rust prevention of metals caused by acid rain. The research results have been widely implemented in the automotive, motorcycle, and outdoor public facility industries.
In 2006, Chongqing Chang'an Automobile Co., Ltd and Mazda Motor Corporation of Hiroshima established Changan Ford Automobile Co., Ltd.
Hiroshima provided technical assistance during the initial planning phase for the construction of Chongqing Rail Transit.
There are often exchanges between performing arts groups and artists from the two cities regarding education and culture.
Chongqing Television Station and Hiroshima Telecasting have formed a friendship. The two stations have visited each other many times, exchanged programs, and filmed programs promoting each other.
Multiple schools located in the two cities have established cordial relations with each other. They have arranged inter-school friendly exchanges, including exchanging teachers and students from colleges and universities. They have also exchanged compositions, paintings, and handicrafts among primary and secondary school students.
Chongqing has sent staff to participate in the International Youth Conference for Peace in the Future in Hiroshima several times and hosted the conference in 2010.
In terms of sports and health, sports groups from the two cities organized delegations to participate in the China-Japan Table Tennis Friendship Match held in Beijing. They organized observation tours for the Asian Games in Beijing.
The two cities maintain regular annual medical exchange activities, including technical training, academic exchanges, etc. Civic groups in Hiroshima have also donated ambulances and medical equipment to Chongqing.
Source: Foreign Affairs Office of Chongqing Municipal People's Government
(Han Bing, as an intern, also contributed to the report.）