The Chongqing International Friendship Cities Cooperation Conference 2024, with the theme "Sub-national Cooperation for Common Development," will be held in Chongqing from May 22 to 23. It is hosted by the Foreign Affairs Office of Chongqing Municipal People's Government and the Chongqing People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.

The Media Briefing of Chongqing International Friendship Cities Cooperation Conference 2024. (Photo/Foreign Affairs Office of Chongqing Municipal People's Government)

Participation of 35 mayors of 48 cities from 31 countries

"Chongqing's international friendship city establishment began in the 1980s. Toulouse, France, became our first friendship city in 1982. In recent years, the friendship city network has been gradually strengthened and played a significant role in serving China's overall diplomacy and Chongqing's economic and social development", said Zhang Yaxi, Deputy Director-General of the Foreign Affairs Office of Chongqing Municipal People's Government. Up to now, Chongqing has established friendship city relations with 54 provinces, prefectures, and cities in 36 countries globally, including 31 municipal-level friendship cities, ranking 11th in China. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, there have been 27 new friendship cities, doubling the total number. So far, Chongqing has established relations for friendly exchanges with 127 provinces, prefectures, and cities worldwide.

The China (Chongqing) - Indonesia Online Business and Investment Promotion Conference. (Photo/Foreign Affairs Office of Chongqing Municipal People's Government)

Planning for multiple events

The Friendship Cities Conference 2024 has developed the planning for multiple events in the fields of economy, trade, cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and ecology, such as the Urban Industrial Cooperation Matchmaking Conference, "Urban Green Development" thematic exchange activity, "International Day for Biological Diversity · Collaboration of Friendship Cities" activity, Opening Ceremony of Chongqing International Friendship Cities Food Street, Chongqing International Friendship Cities Forest tree planting activity, and cultural mutual learning activity among youths from international friendship cities.

"The Friendship Cities Conference 2024 opening coincides with the International Day for Biological Diversity on May 22." Liu Qin, Deputy Director of Chongqing Ecology and Environment Bureau, introduced the "International Day for Biological Diversity · Collaboration of Friendship Cities" activity. Mayors of international friendship provinces, prefectures, and cities will be invited to participate in the event. A biodiversity-themed exhibition will be launched to display a series of species with Chongqing's distinctive characteristics. On the spot, they will also co-create a landscape scroll of biodiversity that integrates traditional culture and characteristics of the Three Gorges Reservoir region to raise public awareness of biodiversity in various ways.

The "Happy Chinese New Year" event at the China Cultural Center in Minsk. (Photo/China Cultural Center)

As a city of delicacies, Chongqing also takes this opportunity to showcase its delicious foods to the world. The Opening Ceremony of Chongqing International Friendship Cities Food Street will be held at Chongqing Tiandi on May 22. During the event, residents can visit the cultural exhibition of friendship cities, closely appreciate the customs of over 30 international friendship cities, taste more than 40 types of international specialties and snacks from South Korea, Japan, and other countries, and enjoy international art performances.

In addition, the "Urban Green Development" thematic exchange activity and Chongqing International Friendship Cities Forest tree planting activity will be held in Nan'an District and Chongqing Economic and Technological Development Zone. Mayors of more than ten cities, including Seattle and cities in Silicon Valley in the United States, Hiroshima in Japan, and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, will deliver speeches based on the event's theme. Enterprise representatives from China, the United States, and Australia will engage in on-site case discussions. Through the thematic exchange activity, representatives from all over the world will share their views on the new era of ecological civilization, seek a new future for green development, and figure out the "optimal solution" to "global problems."