Chongqing - The Chongqing International Friendship Cities Cooperation Conference 2026 (CIFC 2026) opened on May 20, bringing together government delegations from 38 cities across 29 countries, representatives from nine international friendship organizations, diplomatic envoys from 17 nations, and delegates from foreign enterprises and business associations.

The Chongqing International Friendship Cities Cooperation Conference 2026 (CIFC 2026) opened on May 20. (Photo/Deng Nan) 

The gathering aimed to explore opening-up opportunities, deepen multi-dimensional cooperation, and forge a new chapter of subnational friendship and shared progress.

Voices from the Conference

Ana Bentaberri, Governor, San José Department, Oriental Republic of Uruguay: "We have renewed our agreement with the Chongqing Municipal Bureau of Sports to continue deepening cooperation in sports. San José offers preferential tax policies for businesses and, with our strategic location at the intersection of Uruguay's capital Montevideo, Argentina and Brazil, we are well-positioned to support global development strategies."

The CIFC 2026 has drawn 38 cities from 29 countries. (Photo/Deng Nan) 

Morakane Mosupyoe, Speaker of Gauteng Provincial Legislature, South Africa: "Gauteng contributes the largest share of South Africa's GDP and is home to the country's automotive hub. We look forward to launching PPP projects with Chongqing in infrastructure development and renewal to address financing needs and provide a sound business environment for Chongqing investors."

Bounleua Sinxayvoravong, Chairman of Provincial Administration Committee, Luang Prabang Province, Laos: "During this conference, Luang Prabang's Department of Culture and Tourism signed a framework memorandum of understanding with the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute. In 2025, over 1.1 million Chinese tourists traveled to Laos via the China-Laos railway. Luang Prabang will continue working with Chongqing to implement the important consensus reached by our leaders."

Ádám Karácsony, Vice President of Pest County, Hungary: "Since signing a cooperation agreement with Chongqing in 2010, our relations have been steadily strengthened at both governmental and grassroots levels. Over recent years, Pest County has hosted several high-level Chongqing delegations, and Chongqing has repeatedly invited Pest County to international conferences. Last year, China became Hungary's largest source of foreign direct investment, with over 400 Chinese companies operating here, creating 20,000 jobs."

During the conference, a photo album of participating cities was shown. (Photo/Deng Nan)

Expanding the Global Network

Since the 2024 conference, all parties have actively implemented the Chongqing Initiative. Chongqing has added 18 new sister cities and friendly exchange cities - including Lima, Peru, and Gyeonggi Province, South Korea - bringing its total number of such partnerships to 196 worldwide. It has also held over 400 exchange events and delivered tangible outcomes from projects such as the Joint Institute of Chongqing Medical University and the University of Leicester, and the Nepal Southern Agricultural Science and Technology Park. Southeast Asian fruits, Latin American coffee, and European medical products have found their way into Chongqing households, while Chongqing's new energy vehicles and laptops are increasingly popular in sister cities. Mutual tourism promotion has made visits between residents as frequent as family reunions.

Major Outcomes 

1. Deepening People-to-people goodwill for global friendship

Chongqing signed agreements to establish friendly exchange relations with Lao Cai Province, Vietnam; Yangon Region, Myanmar; Jizzakh Region, Uzbekistan; and Trenčín Region, Slovakia.

In addition, Yuzhong District established similar relations with Balatonboglár, Hungary, and Nesvizh District, Minsk Region, Belarus.

2. Turning practical exchanges into medium- and long-term cooperation plans

- Chongqing & Minsk Region, Belarus: 13 key projects covering industrial robotics, medical devices, and agricultural products.

- Chongqing & Seattle, USA: Cooperation in urban governance, animal protection, and landscaping.

- Chongqing & Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia: Collaboration in education and training, sports events, and cultural tourism promotion.

- New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor Think Tank Alliance: 10 new council members, 15 joint research projects, 5 talent cultivation mechanisms, and 10 academic conferences.

The conference also showcased the achievements of Chongqing's international friendship cities cooperation. (Photo/Deng Nan)

3. Expanding cooperation where strengths meet, and growth is shared

- Chang'an Automobile and ADM Group (Uzbekistan) will jointly manufacture new energy vehicles.

- The Nepal-China Economic and Trade Association and Chongqing Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export, and the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and CCPIT Chongqing Committee will work together on investment promotion and trade facilitation.

- The Chongqing Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau and Phnom Penh (Cambodia), Minsk Region (Belarus), and North Jeolla Province (South Korea) will collaborate on talent development, mutual qualification recognition, and skills competitions.

- Senica Secondary School No. 2 (Belarus) and Chongqing Renmin Primary School; the San José Sports Bureau (Uruguay) and Chongqing Municipal Bureau of Sports; Pesaro (Italy) and Liangping District (Chongqing); and Luang Prabang Department of Culture and Tourism and Sichuan Fine Arts Institute will engage in cooperation in basic education, sports events, culture, and tourism. 

4. Shaping future cooperation through sustainable development

- Initiative on the Joint Development of International Friendship Cities for Skills Cooperation — Promoting shared standards, mutual recognition, joint talent training, and co-hosted competitions.

- Initiative on Deepening Lemon Industry Exchanges and Cooperation Among International Friendship Cities — Establishing a green development alliance for the lemon industry to enhance cooperation in green cultivation, low-carbon processing, and R&D and innovation.

(Liu Yiting, as an intern, also contributed to this article.)