Internal working platform of Yunnan Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries

The work of international friendly cities is an important part of people-to-people diplomacy, an important carrier to practice the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind and to enhance people-to-people exchanges between China and foreign countries, and an important channel for localities and cities to participate in international exchanges and cooperation. General Secretary Xi Jinping attaches great importance to city diplomacy and the work of international friendly cities, emphasizing the need to "promote people-to-people diplomacy, city diplomacy, and public diplomacy better" and "diligently carry out the work of China's international friendly cities, promote exchanges and cooperation between local governments of China and foreign countries, and promote resource sharing, complementary advantages, and win-win cooperation". At present, the world is experiencing rapid changes that have not occurred in a century, and the external environment and work requirements faced by the work of international friendly cities have undergone profound changes. This has opened up new spaces for the work of international friendly cities, but it has also put forward new tasks. We should thoroughly study and implement Xi Jinping's diplomatic thought, adhere to the unity of problem-oriented and goal-oriented, continuously deepen the understanding of the laws of the work of international friendly cities, carry out the work of international friendly cities with high quality, and make greater contributions to better serve the overall economic and social development and the general diplomatic situation.

Practice the concept of win-win cooperation and consolidate the foundation for people-to-people exchanges. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "We are willing to share the opportunities of China's development with the international community, to cooperate for mutual benefit and common development." The work of international friendly cities is an important link to connect Chinese and foreign localities and to communicate people's hearts and minds. It embodies the requirements of the times for cooperation and common development among countries. By the end of 2025, China has established more than 3,000 friendly city (provincial) relations with more than 150 countries, weaving a "friendship circle" across five continents. It has formed a friendly network with prominent features, clear levels and extensive coverage, which effectively promotes people's livelihood cooperation. We promote the project of mushroom grass technology in Africa to help local people increase their income; we create Lu Ban Workshops in Southeast Asia, Central Asia and other regions to train local technical professionals; we work with Middle East countries to promote international cooperation in green technology and other fields, and jointly explore the path of green development. On the new journey, to carry out the work of international friendly cities with high quality, we should focus on serving the diplomacy of the head of state, take the initiative to connect with the new concepts, new propositions and new initiatives such as building a community with a shared future for mankind and the four global initiatives, further deepen the exchanges and exchanges with the neighboring countries and cities in the "Belt and Road" co-construction countries in the work layout, and continue to focus on poverty reduction, education, green development and other "down-to-earth" people's livelihood projects in the content of cooperation, so that the fruits of practical cooperation can benefit the people of all countries more and more fairly.

Strengthen systematic planning and enhance the effectiveness of collaborative efforts. The work of international friendly cities involves a wide range of geographical areas, covers a large number of fields, and involves many participating subjects, which is a complex systematic project. To advance this systematic project, we should fully play the significant advantages of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics, not only improve the top-level design, scientifically formulate the development planning of the work of international friendly cities, clarify the goals and tasks, key directions, cooperation fields and implementation paths of each stage, to ensure that the blueprint is drawn all the way through and always serve the central work of the Party and the state; but also achieve the concentration of forces to do big things, effectively coordinate all resources, and ensure division of labor and cooperation, close cooperation. The China International友好 Cities Conference is the largest and highest-level institutional conference related to friendly cities in China, and it has been successfully held for seven sessions so far. During the 2024 China International friendly Cities Conference, more than 700 representatives from more than 60 cities and provinces in China and abroad in more than 40 countries participated in the conference. The conference focused on smart cities, green development, cultural heritage, transportation interconnection and other issues, and played an active role in deepening exchanges and cooperation among international friendly cities, promoting regional economic integration, serving the economic and social development and people's livelihood of the region.

Based on urban resources, deepen precise and pragmatic cooperation. Cities in various countries have unique historical accumulation and cultural heritage, and they also show certain differences in development demands and industrial roots due to different geographical endowments. To carry out the work of international friendly cities in a high-quality way, we should adhere to the principle of "one country, one policy; one city, one policy", combine our own actual situation, focus on characteristic fields, accurately connect supply and demand, and promote the international friendly city cooperation from extensive coverage to high quality and sustainability. For example, Guangxi, Yunnan and other places grasp the unique advantages of geographical proximity and cultural affinity with ASEAN countries, and take ASEAN countries as an important direction for international friendly city cooperation. Through the formulation of exchange plans, the establishment of communication platforms and other measures, we should continuously deepen pragmatic cooperation. We should focus on local endowments, rely on brands with local characteristics, and seek friendly city cooperation and open up business opportunities with foreign local governments in a targeted way, so as to enhance the radiation effect of brand projects. For example, coastal areas can highlight the characteristics of open economy, green shipping and other marine economy features, border areas can focus on cross-border trade, people-to-people exchanges and other neighboring cooperation features, and industrial cities can enhance the features of industrial chain and supply chain interlocking, technology research and development and other industrial cooperation features, so that the international friendly city cooperation is more down-to-earth and more recognizable, and becomes an important driving force for local economic and social development.

Relying on local governments and mobilizing multiple subjects to participate. Local governments are important subjects to carry out the work of international friendly cities. They undertake the dual responsibilities of connecting the overall foreign affairs of the country and serving the economic and social development of the local area. They play an active role in the process of gathering the strength of multiple subjects and promoting the construction of international friendly cities with high quality. It is necessary to rely on local governments, adhere to the people's principal position, fully reflect the will of the people, protect the rights and interests of the people, and stimulate the creativity of the people in the work of international friendly cities. It is necessary to mobilize people from all walks of life, such as the business community, the academic community, the cultural community, and the overseas Chinese community, to effectively integrate various resources such as enterprises, chambers of commerce, scientific research institutes, and social organizations, to promote the sharing of resources and mutual benefit among local governments, and to inject strong impetus into economic and social development. For example, the RCEP Local Governments and Friendly Cities Cooperation (Huangshan) Forum, as a national-level mechanism-based forum, brings together government officials, friendly city representatives, experts and scholars, enterprise and chamber of commerce representatives, and people from all walks of life from the member countries of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). They discuss the themes of economic and trade cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and friendly city exchanges, and draw a blueprint for regional cooperation. It has become a useful platform for the member countries of RCEP to enhance understanding, carry out cooperation, and find pairs for exchanges and cooperation. It is a vivid practice of carrying out the work of international friendly cities by relying on local governments and gathering multiple forces.

(Published in People's Daily on January 7, 2026, on page 09)