Yunnan Provincial People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries

Yunnan is an important node in the construction of the “Belt and Road” initiative. It is one of China’s provinces with the most convenient land access to South Asian countries and plays an important role in the long history of friendly exchanges between China and South Asian countries.

"More than 2,000 years ago, the Southern Silk Road and the Ancient Tea-Horse Road jointly opened up by the ancestors of both sides enjoyed world-renowned status, becoming important channels for trade and cultural exchanges, and making significant contributions to the progress of world civilization. More than 600 years ago, Zheng He, a Yunnan native, made seven voyages to the West, leaving a strong mark in the history of exchanges with South Asian countries. More than 70 years ago, the famous Stilwell Road and the Hump Route became historical witnesses of the close connection between the destinies of Yunnan and South Asia." Recently, the reporter interviewed the relevant person in charge of the Yunnan People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries to systematically understand the practice and achievements of the continuous deepening of friendly relations between Yunnan and South Asian countries and regions in recent years, and the new level of regional exchanges and cooperation.

Based on friendly cities, friendly organizations and friendly people, we will promote practical cooperation in multiple fields and serve the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Over the years, Yunnan Province has actively practiced the concepts of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit, inclusiveness, and good-neighborliness and friendship, and has taken the initiative to expand its "circle of friends" in South Asian countries. It has established six pairs of international friendly cities with four South Asian countries, namely India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, and maintained regular working contacts with 25 friendly organizations in South Asian countries, thus building a reliable platform for Yunnan Province to carry out friendly exchanges and cooperation with South Asian countries at a wide range of levels and in multiple fields.

Practical cooperation between sister cities and friendly exchanges between peoples are vivid practices of Yunnan Province in practicing the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind. Through sister cities, friendly organizations and friendly people, our province has continuously expanded exchanges and cooperation with South Asian countries in culture, health, education, poverty alleviation and other fields, and has made positive contributions to the friendly exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation between China and South Asian countries.

Since 2013, Kunming and Pokhara, Nepal, have achieved "two-way travel" through sports events such as the Jiaozi Snow Mountain Climbing Festival, the Kunming International Plateau Half Marathon, the Kunming Jiaozi Snow Mountain Cross-Country Challenge, and the Pokhara-Kunming International Friendship City League, further enhancing understanding and friendship. In 2020, Kunming's sister cities of Pokhara, Nepal, Chittagong and Gazipur, Bangladesh, "gathered online" to participate in the 9th China-South Asia International Cultural Forum City Light Online Show, continuing to deepen the friendly relations between China, Yunnan Province and South Asian sister cities.

Lincang City and Gampola City in Sri Lanka use industry as the basis for cooperation to promote the construction of sister cities and actively carry out exchanges and cooperation in the fields of industry, education, tourism, medicine and other fields.

Using large-scale international events as a platform, we will promote exchanges and mutual learning, and serve the construction of a radiation center for South Asia and Southeast Asia

In recent years, Yunnan Province has continuously improved its cooperation with South Asian countries through important platforms such as the China-South Asia Expo and the South Asia and Southeast Asian Countries Commodity Exhibition and Investment and Trade Fair, the China-South Asia Cooperation Forum, the China-South Asia International Cultural Forum, and the China-South Asia Provincial and Municipal Mayors Forum.

Since the 2020 China-South Asia International Cultural Forum was held in Yunnan, envoys to China, representatives of friendly organizations, experts and scholars, business leaders, and young people from South Asian countries have gathered in Yunnan every year to exchange and learn from each other around relevant topics, contribute wisdom, and share new ideas and new perspectives. The forum has become a large platform for cultural exchanges between Yunnan Province and South Asian countries for consultation, co-construction, and sharing. By showing the delegates the magnificent picture of Yunnan's ethnic unity and harmony, cultural diversity and tolerance, and colorful and beautiful scenery, Yunnan's charm radiates to South Asia, achieving the purpose of deepening friendship, mutual learning, enhancing mutual trust, and promoting people-to-people exchanges, it has strongly echoed the global civilization initiative and become a new driving force for serving Yunnan's construction of a radiation center facing South Asia and Southeast Asia.

In 2019, the China-South Asia Mayors Forum was held in Kunming. More than 150 guests, including 25 local provinces, mayors and heads of relevant departments of Yunnan Province from 17 countries in South Asia, Southeast Asia and around the world, attended the forum to share the concept of "jointly discussing, building and sharing a prosperous South Asia and moving towards a community of shared destiny", further promote the development of relations and common prosperity between China and South Asian countries, and make positive contributions to the construction of Yunnan Province as a radiation center facing South Asia and Southeast Asia and the development of a new pattern of relations between China and South Asia.

Taking the "China·Heart Connecting Yunnan" small and beautiful project as a starting point, we will promote the implementation of people's livelihood projects and serve the overall national diplomatic situation

In order to implement the important instructions and instructions of General Secretary Xi Jinping to "make small and beautiful projects a priority for foreign cooperation", Yunnan Province adheres to the concept of "cooperation, development and win-win" and will implement the "Heart Connecting Yunnan Tour" small and beautiful projects in South Asian and Southeast Asian countries in 2022. So far, a total of 36 "Heart Connecting Yunnan Tour" public welfare and livelihood projects have been implemented in six South Asian countries, including Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Bhutan.

These projects involve many fields such as health, education, infrastructure, ecological protection, and industrial support, benefiting the local people. Through down-to-earth projects that benefit the people, refined exchanges and interactions, and solid mutually beneficial cooperation projects, we can build a solid foundation for public opinion, allow local people to deeply participate in the process of friendly relations, and enhance their sense of gain from friendly cooperation.

The "Green Pakistan" tree planting project along the N5 highway is close to people's livelihood and consolidates public opinion; Nepal's solar photovoltaic and Bangladesh's rural integrated drinking water facilities promote green, low-carbon and sustainable development...

In 2023, the Yunnan Provincial Medical Team entered South Asia for the first time and carried out the "Bright Journey" activity in Sri Lanka. For two consecutive years, they successfully performed 218 cataract restoration surgeries, which received unanimous praise and high evaluation from the Sri Lankan government and people. The "Bright Journey" small but beautiful project, which takes "sending light and enhancing friendship" as its entry point and focus, fully reflects the deep friendship of the Chinese government and people to Sri Lankan friends by conveying the voice of peace and friendship, consolidates the public opinion foundation of China-Sri Lanka friendship, creates a better atmosphere of friendly cooperation between Yunnan and Sri Lanka, and effectively serves the overall national diplomacy and the overall situation of China-Sri Lanka friendship.