Yunnan Provincial People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries

On November 18, the 2024 China International Sister Cities Conference opened in Kunming. Wang Ning, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, delivered a speech at the opening ceremony.

On November 18, the 2024 China International Sister Cities Conference opened in Kunming. Photo by Lei Tongsu Zhoucan

Wang Ning said——

President Xi Jinping is very concerned about the development of Yunnan and requires Yunnan to strive to become a demonstration area for my country's national unity and progress, a vanguard in ecological civilization construction, and a radiation center for South Asia and Southeast Asia. We remember the instructions and, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee, conscientiously implement the deployment of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, implement the "3815" strategic development goals of three years to reach a higher level, eight years of great development, and 15 years of great leaps, and comprehensively Deepen reform, expand opening up to the outside world, vigorously develop the resource economy, park economy, and port economy, and continue to improve people's living standards. In 2023, the province's total economic volume will reach a historic level of 3 trillion yuan, showing a new atmosphere of economic prosperity, social harmony, national unity, ecological beauty, and openness and progress.

Wang Ning introduced——

Yunnan has a rich history, a livable ecology, and rich resources. It is home to 26 ethnic groups that have always lived in the country. It has been the frontier and window for China's exchanges and cooperation with South Asia and Southeast Asia since ancient times.

There is a gene of openness and tolerance here.As early as more than 2,000 years ago, Yunnan caravans "used tea as a matchmaker", walked out on the world-famous Tea Horse Road, and opened up the Southern Silk Road. More than 600 years ago, Yunnan navigator Zheng He made "seven voyages to the Western Seas" and traveled to more than 30 countries and regions in Asia and Africa. The story of exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations continues to this day. Now, with the in-depth advancement of the joint construction of the "Belt and Road", the rapid development of the China-Laos Railway, and the continuous deepening of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation, we have not only bridged the natural chasm, but also narrowed the distance between us.

Here, there is a tradition of friendly exchanges.In 1981, Kunming and Fujisawa, Japan became the first pair of international sister cities in Yunnan due to the musician Nie Er. Over the past 40 years, Yunnan has established 112 pairs of friendly relations with provinces, states and cities in 37 countries on five continents, and has achieved fruitful cooperation results in the fields of economy and trade, education, health, culture, tourism and other fields. In particular, in the face of natural disasters and epidemics, we help each other and overcome difficulties together, and the relationship of "sister-cities and one family" becomes even stronger.

Here, there is a platform for mutually beneficial cooperation.Yunnan is accelerating the construction of China's radiation center for South Asia and Southeast Asia. It has established 12 multilateral and bilateral cooperation mechanisms with local governments in relevant countries, has 28 ports such as railways, highways, aviation, and water transportation, and has built free trade zones, economic development zones, and border areas. Open platforms such as industrial parks regularly hold major events such as the China International Expo, the China Tourism Industry Fair, and the Tengchong Scientists Forum. The stage for international exchanges and cooperation is broader and the development prospects are getting better and better.

The opening ceremony of the 2024 China International Sister Cities Conference. Photo by Lei Tongsu Zhoucan

There is a Chinese saying that goes, "Friends are hard to find across thousands of miles. The more friends you have, the easier it is to travel." President Xi Jinping pointed out that sister provinces, states and sister cities are important carriers for deepening friendship between peoples of various countries and achieving mutual benefit and win-win results. We will thoroughly implement Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, under the guidance of the China Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, and use sister provinces, states and sister cities as platforms to deepen all-round exchanges, promote in-depth cooperation, and continue to write a new chapter in international sister city exchanges.

Wang Ning proposed

Suggestions for deepening cooperation in 3 aspects——

First, maintain traditional friendship through close exchanges.We are willing to work with our sister cities to visit each other frequently like "relatives", support exchanges between officials, scholars, youth, civil society, etc., deepen exchanges in the fields of culture and art, radio and television, education and scientific research, and historical heritage protection, and build a More "heart-to-heart bridges" connecting people will make the tree of friendship more luxuriant.

The second is to achieve win-win development through pragmatic cooperation.We are willing to work with sister cities to strengthen cooperation in science and technology, industry, ports, customs clearance, logistics, tourism, etc., support universities, scientific research institutions, and enterprises to carry out joint research, encourage two-way investment, expand trade scale, and build a mutually beneficial industrial chain. supply chain, jointly cultivate new momentum for development, and share new opportunities for open development.

The third is to promote common progress through mutual learning.We are willing to work with our sister cities to strengthen experience exchanges, learn from each other in anti-poverty and reduction, ethnic unity, urban planning, rural governance, digital economy, green and low-carbon development, etc., and work together on the road to modernization to achieve long-term stability. The friendly relations and partnerships are transformed into development results that benefit the people of the sister cities and create a better life.

Wang Ning said——

Today's Yunnan is striding forward on a new journey of Chinese-style modernization, full of vitality, opportunities and hope. We sincerely invite all guests to walk around and see more of Yunnan, share "there is a kind of life called Yunnan" and jointly create "there is a kind of opportunity called Yunnan".

I believe you will be able to make more friends and find good opportunities for cooperation here.! Let us go together, develop hand in hand, and contribute the power of sister cities to building a community with a shared future for mankind!