On November 19, the China International Friendship Cities Conference 2024 concluded in Kunming, Yunnan Province. Centered on the theme of "Common Prosperity, Shared Future", the conference brought together more than 700 participants, including representatives from 66 provinces, states, and 125 cities in 41 countries, along with 66 local government organizations or friendship organizations, experts, and business leaders.
This year's conference was co-hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), the China International Friendship Cities Association (CIFCA), and the People's Government of Yunnan Province. The China International Friendship Cities Conference is recognized as the largest and highest-level institutional event in China related to sister-city cooperation. Since its inception in 2008, it has been held seven times in Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Wuhan, and now Kunming.
What is the significance of this conference? How do sister-city exchanges contribute to relations between China and the world, as well as to social and economic development? What steps will China take to further promote and develop sister-city relations? On November 20, Yang Wanming, President of the CPAFFC, provided written responses during an exclusive interview with The Paper (www.thepaper.cn).
Yang Wanming highlighted that over the past five decades, the CPAFFC has worked closely with local governments at all levels in China to actively and persistently promote exchanges and cooperation with sister cities worldwide. These efforts have yielded remarkable and tangible results. He noted that sister-city exchanges have built bridges of friendship among people, created a "through train" for economic and trade cooperation, paved "a road to happiness" that benefits the well-being of the people, and introduced innovative models for regional cooperation.
According to Yang, this year's conference underscored the critical role of international friendship cities work in fostering regional economic integration, driving local economic and social advancement, and enhancing the people's well-being. Yang emphasized that both the theme forum and the four parallel forums—focused on smart cities, green development, cultural heritage preservation, and transport connectivity—address issues of global concern. These discussions showcased the practical value of sister-city cooperation in tackling some of the most pressing challenges of our time. Furthermore, the conference served as an opportunity to reconnect international counterparts whose ties had been interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic while simultaneously establishing new channels for collaboration between local governments and friendly organizations. Yang noted that there was a unanimous commitment among participants to leverage the conference as a platform for broadening and deepening cooperation.
Yang Wanming also emphasized that the vital importance of people-to-people and cultural exchanges, particularly among younger generation. He said that fostering mutual understanding and establishing bonds of friendship among the young people is crucial for consolidating the popular support needed to strengthen state-to-state relations. Yang called for more diverse and inclusive exchange programs between Chinese and foreign youth. By encouraging increased communication and dialogue among the young people from different countries, these programs can help build trust and understanding across cultures. He expressed hope that these initiatives would inject youthful vitality into sister-city collaborations, ensuring that the great cause of people-to-people friendship is carried forward by future generations
The following is the full transcript of the interview:
Sister City Exchanges Build a Bridge of Friendship among the People
www.thepaper.cn: The China International Friendship Cities Conference 2024 has concluded. What do you think of the outcomes achieved at the conference?
Yang Wanming: International sister cities are a vital channel for enhancing people-to-people friendship, deepening mutually beneficial cooperation, and promoting mutual learning among civilizations. President Xi Jinping attaches great importance to the work of international sister cities. He has emphasized that activities involving international sister cities have become an integral part of bilateral relations between China and relevant countries. He has also stressed the need to strengthen the work related to international sister cities, improve communication between Chinese and foreign local governments, and achieve mutually beneficial cooperation through sharing resources and drawing on complementary strengths.
Co-hosted by the CPAFFC and the CIFCA, the China International Friendship Cities Conference is the largest and highest-level institutional conference related to sister cities in China. Held every two years in principle, the conference has convened six sessions since its inception in 2008, with previous editions held in Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Chongqing, and Wuhan.
This year's conference stands out in several ways, particularly in terms of timing, location, theme, scale, and outcomes:
In terms of timing, due to the impact of COVID-19, the 7th edition, originally scheduled for 2020, was postponed until this year. This makes it the first international friendship cities conference to take place since the outbreak of the pandemic. Additionally, 2024 marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and the 70th anniversary of the founding of the CPAFFC, making this a particular significant year for us.
The decision to hold the conference in Kunming, Yunnan Province was driven by their unique geographical advantages and outstanding achievements in fostering international sister-city relationships. Notably, from November 6 to 7, Kunming also hosted the Eighth Greater Mekong Subregion Summit, underscoring its strategic importance. This year's conference highlights the critical role of international friendship cities in promoting regional economic integration, advancing regional economic and social development, and enhancing people's well-being. Gathering with friends from all around the world in Kunming, known as the "Spring City", in early winter reflects the vitality and prosperity of international sister-city cooperation.
The theme of this year's conference, "Common Prosperity, Shared Future", was both timely and relevant. In addition to the opening ceremony and the theme forum, the conference featured four parallel forums, namely, "Technological Innovation Helps Build Smart Cities", "Urban Green Development Benefits People’s Livelihood", "Guarding and Inheriting the City's Historical and Cultural Roots", and "Transportation Interconnection Builds a Community of Urban Destiny". These are issues of widespread concern in the international community, holding significant appeal for guests from all over the world. Nearly 60 Chinese and foreign guests enthusiastically delivered speeches across various sessions, offering valuable insights into fostering exchanges and mutual learning, building consensus for cooperation, improving people's wellbeing, and achieving mutually beneficial outcomes between Chinese and foreign local governments.
As to the scale, over 700 participants attended the conference. Among them were 37 provincial and ministerial-level leaders, 74 mayors and deputy mayors, representatives from 66 provinces and states, 125 cities, and 63 local government organizations and friendly organizations across 41 countries spanning five continents, experts, scholars, business leaders, and media representatives. The United States, Japan, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand were well-represented at the conference. Also in attendance were representatives of some foreign local governments that have not yet established sister cities with China, but demonstrate great potential for cooperation and a strong will to do so. This underscores the broad reach, strong representation, and high appeal of China's international sister-city efforts.
The outcomes of this year's conference were equally remarkable. Highlights include 16 agreements signed to establish new sister city/province relationships and cooperation projects between Chinese and foreign cities. An increase of 483 sister-city partnerships since the last conference in 2018, bringing the total number of China's international sister-city relationships to 3,054 pairs. To further motivate Chinese and foreign local governments to carry out international sister-city exchanges, we selected 20 Chinese provinces and cities that have performed well in work related to international friendship cities and 40 foreign provinces, states, and cities that have actively engaged in exchanges and cooperation with China's sister cities. They were respectively awarded the International Friendship City Award for Outstanding Contribution, and the Friendship City Award for Outstanding Partnership with China. The release of the Kunming Initiative, calling on sister cities and local governments of all countries worldwide to strengthen solidarity and mutual assistance, and deepen exchanges and cooperation. The conference also served as a platform for many counterparts to resume ties disrupted by COVID-19 and establish new channels of communication between local governments and friendly organizations. Participants universally agreed that this conference was timely and expressed a commitment to relying on this platform to broaden and deepen cooperation continuously.
www.thepaper.cn: In your opinion, what role do sister city exchanges play in fostering local economic and social development, and what has been their impact?
Yang Wanming: The CPAFFC has the critical responsibility of guiding, coordinating, managing, and facilitating the establishment and development of sister-city relationships between China and foreign countries. As of now, 3,046 pairs of sister provinces/states and sister cities have been established with 602 provinces/states and 1,867 cities in 147 countries, forming an expansive circle of friends across five continents. Over the past half-century, we have worked closely with local governments at all levels in China to actively engage in in-depth exchanges and cooperation with sister cities worldwide, achieving remarkable and fruitful results.
Sister city exchanges have built a bridge of friendship among peoples through a variety of community-centered exchange activities. Sister cities in China and abroad have been enhancing mutual understanding and friendship among different peoples through a rich tapestry of friendly exchange events close to the people. They include mutual visits by residents, cultural performances, sports competitions, summer camps for young people, language and culture classes, and border residents' gala. Most importantly, in response to sudden disasters, Chinese and foreign sister cities have supported and helped each other, leaving a touching chapter of standing together through thick and thin.
Sister city exchanges have created a "through train" for economic and trade cooperation. Chinese and foreign sister cities have worked to strengthen industrial complementarity and resource sharing, organize distinctive trade and investment events, and establish platforms for high-level opening up, such as pilot free trade zones. They have collaborated to develop cross-border corridors, industrial parks, logistics parks, manufacturing bases, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) demonstration zones. Besides, they have developed a tightly woven network for economic and trade cooperation and jointly fostered new growth areas for cooperation in fields such as healthcare, green development, digitalization, and innovation. They have also advanced industrial integration, interconnected development and shared benefits. These efforts have significantly bolstered regional economic growth and contributed to building an open and inclusive global economy.
Sister city exchanges have paved "a road to happiness" benefiting the well-being of the people by exploring innovative ways of achieving common development and implementing new cooperation projects that directly benefit the public. Chinese and foreign sister cities have actively shared experiences and insights in areas such as sustainable development, smart city, digital governance, environmental protection, and addressing challenges related to population aging. A range of projects focused on improving livelihoods have been implemented, including free medical services, education cooperation, vocational training, technology promotion, poverty reduction, and agricultural development. Platforms such as Juncao Technology Aassistance, Luban Workshops, and Brightness Action have become signature initiatives, providing tangible benefits to local people.
Sister city exchanges have also paved the way for innovative models for regional cooperation. Yunnan, one of the provinces with the most neighboring countries and the longest land border in China, serves as an important gateway to South and Southeast Asia. This unique geographical advantage was one of the key reasons why Kunming was chosen as the host city for this year's conference. As one of the major outcomes of this conference, Kunming will, in partnership with relevant domestic and foreign cities along the China-Laos Railway, initiate the establishment of the China-Laos Railway City Alliance. Dialogue and cooperation mechanisms among cities, think tanks, and enterprises will be put in place to strengthen cooperation in infrastructure, trade, and investment between cities and explore new approaches to boost regional economic cooperation.
Building a Circle of Friends and a Partner Network for People-to-People Diplomacy
www.thepaper.cn: What role has the CPAFFC played in stepping up exchanges and cooperation between the peoples of China and other countries?
Yang Wanming: People-to-people diplomacy serves as the bedrock for strengthening people's friendship and promoting the development of national relations. Over the past 70 years, the CPAFFC, as a national people's organization dedicated to people-to-people diplomacy, has adhered to the principles of "friendship, cooperation, peace, and development". It has worked to cultivate people-to-people ties, build bridges to enhance national relations, and facilitate international cooperation. Throughout its history, the CPAFFC has aligned itself with the aspirations of the people, the nation, and the world.
Over the past seven decades, the CPAFFC has remained true to its original aspiration of fostering international friendship. It has established friendly exchanges and cooperative relationships with over 400 organizations and institutions across more than 150 countries. Moreover, it has fostered over 3,000 sister city (province/state) partnerships between China and 140 countries, creating a vast network of friends and partners spanning five continents. The CPAFFC has played a key role as a conduit for people-to-people diplomacy, conducting extensive people-to-people exchanges on multiple fronts, at different levels, in various areas and of multiple dimensions.
Over the past seven decades, the CPAFFC has also been committed itself to mutually beneficial cooperation. It has mobilized resources from international sister cities, multinational corporations, and friendly organizations to build mechanisms between local and civil exchanges between China and other countries. Through this platform, it has promoted pragmatic cooperation in sectors such as trade, education, science and technology, culture, ecology, healthcare, poverty alleviation, and human resource training. The CPAFFC has also actively participated in international efforts to combat COVID-19, ensuring that the benefits of development are shared globally.
Over the past seven decades, the CPAFFC has utilized people-to-people exchanges to introduce Chinese culture to the world and facilitate exchange and mutual learning among civilizations. Through a variety of artistic forms, including music, dance, drama, and acrobatics, it has organized popular events such as food festivals, dragon boat races, summer camps, and grand gatherings to give the people of all countries a stronger sense of fulfillment and engagement and increase mutual understanding and friendship between Chinese and foreign people.
www.thepaper.cn: The younger generation is playing an increasingly prominent role in sister-city cooperation. How does the CPAFFC encourage and support the younger generation in contributing to the cause of friendship between China and foreign countries?
Yang Wanming: Youth are the most dynamic and enterprising group in any society. With their open and active mind, they are more willing to try new things and accept new ideas. They represent hope and the future. Youth exchanges serve as a strong impetus for state-to-state relations. President Xi Jinping has often emphasized that the future of state-to-state relations lies with the youth. During his overseas visits, President Xi Jinping visited universities, middle schools and elementary schools, exchanged letters and interacted frequently with teachers and students, and encouraged young people in all countries to learn Chinese and understand China, sowing the seeds of friendship. The story of his enduring friendship with an old friend in the State of Iowa, the United States when he was a young man is enduring and widely told, leaving us with profound insights.
Since the beginning of this year, President Xi Jinping has sent a congratulatory letter to the Bond with Kuliang: 2024 China-U.S. Youth Festival and extended a message to the "Shared Journey of Friendship" US Youth Exchange Delegation. First Lady Peng Liyuan also attended the China-U.S. Teenager Cultural and Sports Exchange Event, "Shared Journey for China-U.S. Friendship", which has further strengthened ties between the young people of the two countries. These efforts have inspired the youth to take an active role in fostering understanding and building relationships.
People-to-people exchanges are vital for younger generations to understand one another and forge bonds of friendship. By promoting communication and dialogue among the youth from different countries, the CPAFFC aims to increase mutual understanding and trust, thus consolidating the popular support necessary for the long-term development of state-to-state relations. To this end, the CPAFFC will proactively mobilize the resources of sister cities and vigorously carry out exchanges between Chinese and foreign youth. Next year, the CPAFFC will work with relevant Chinese and foreign local governments to jointly organize the Bond with Kuliang: China-U.S. Youth Festival Series Activities, the Youth of Russia and China Walking the Road of Friendship, the Conference of the Junior High School Students Table Tennis Friendship Competition Between China and Japan Friendly Exchange Cities, the China-Africa Future Leaders' Dialogue, the ASEAN-China Youth Leaders Exchange Festival and other institutional activities. It is hoped that a wide range of exchange programs between Chinese and foreign youth will be carried out in various forms to inject youthful vigor into sister-city cooperation and ensure that the great cause of people-to-people friendship will be passed on from generation to generation.
