Chongqing - The Chongqing International Friendship Cities Cooperation Conference (CIFC) 2026 is scheduled to take place from May 19 to 20, local officials announced at a press conference on Thursday. The biennial event will focus on sub-national cooperation for common development, building on the success of its inaugural edition held in 2024.
The Chongqing International Friendship Cities Food Court opened in Chongqing Tiandi in 2024. (Photo/Long Fan and Yin Shiyu from Chongqing Daily)
Held concurrently with the 8th Western China International Fair for Investment and Trade (WCIFIT), this year’s conference has already drawn delegations from 38 provinces and cities across 29 countries, including 28 provincial and city leaders, representatives from nine international friendship organizations, and foreign consular officials and business association representatives, according to Wang Wen, director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the People's Government of Chongqing Municipality and executive vice president of the Chongqing People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CQPAFFC).
The conference will feature six major activities:
• An opening ceremony on the morning of May 20, which will include the signing of special cooperation projects between Chongqing and its friendship cities.
• A friendship cities economic and trade cooperation matchmaking forum on the afternoon of May 20, serving as a platform for foreign cities to present their investment environments and connect with local enterprises.
• A "Charming Friendship Cities" cultural tourism promotion event on the same afternoon, where sister cities will showcase their tourism resources, premium routes and cultural highlights.
• The Chongqing International Friendship Cities Food and Culture Carnival, launching on the afternoon of May 19 and running for one week at the Chongqing Xintiandi International Friendship Cities Food Street, featuring food markets, a hot pot skills competition and an international concert.
• The "Meet the World in Chongqing" International Friendship Cities Exchange Exhibition, opening on the afternoon of May 19 at the Chongqing Art Museum in Jiefangbei, which will run for one month free of charge, displaying photos, artworks and gifts from sister cities.
• Themed site visits allowing guests to tour urban renewal projects, open platforms and innovation hubs to explore cooperation opportunities.
Three key outcomes are expected from the conference: expanded international friendships, bringing together long-standing partners such as Seattle (sister city since 1983) and newer friends like Annaba Province, Algeria (2025); tangible cooperation, with Chongqing planning to sign three-year action plans with several friendship cities in fields such as economy, technology, culture, sports and youth exchanges, while also supporting friendship city enterprises participating in WCIFIT; and mutual learning, as cities at different development stages can share experiences in mega-city governance, ecological protection and industrial innovation.
Chongqing has steadily grown its international sister city network, with relationships now established with 59 cities in 39 countries, Wang noted. The city also maintains friendly exchange relations with 137 other cities. Notably, 17 sister cities are located along the Belt and Road and the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor.
Several cooperation projects, including those with Tashkent Region in Uzbekistan and Lima in Peru, have been incorporated into national diplomatic agendas, according to Wang.
Li Mingquan, deputy director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the People's Government of Chongqing Municipality and vice president and secretary-general of the CQPAFFC, provided further details on the economic and cultural forums. The matchmaking event, themed "Shared Opportunities · Meeting the World in Chongqing," will highlight the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, financial services and Chongqing's "33618" modern manufacturing cluster.
A separate cultural tourism promotion, themed "Friendship Cities, Shared Hearts · Cultural Tourism, Shared Journey," will feature presentations from South Korea's Gyeonggi Province, South Africa's Gauteng Province and Slovakia's Trenčín Region, alongside Chongqing's own tourism highlights.
Chen Ping, deputy head of People's Government of Yuzhong District, introduced the Food and Culture Carnival, which will take place at the Chongqing Xintiandi International Friendship Cities Food Street – a 100,000-square-meter dining area hosting more than 40 restaurant brands. More than 30 specialty dishes and five international hot pot styles from sister cities will be offered.
"Chongqing's Yuzhong District is the city's window to the world and the world's living room in Chongqing," Chen said. "From May 19 to 24, we warmly welcome friends from home and abroad to taste global delicacies and renew our friendship-city bonds."
The press conference was hosted by Zhang Qiong, deputy director of the Publicity Department of the CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee and director of the Information Office of Chongqing Municipal People's Government.