Hunan Promotes Sister-city Exchange for Regional Strategic Development

　　With Hunan’s economic and social development and intensified opening up, a sister-city ties campaign for regional strategic development has been launched in recent years. Currently, Hunan has established friendly relationships with 13 provinces, 46 cities and 9 counties. It has also signed agreements of intent on establishing friendly ties with 19 provinces or states, and 43 cities or districts worldwide. Sister-city activities have played positive roles in helping Hunan go global and largely making up for its geographical disadvantage of being far away from national boundaries and seas.

　　Building platforms, developing mechanisms, promoting projects, improving services and propelling development have become significant approaches to establishing sister-city ties in the new age. The Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of Hunan Province has made great efforts to actively promote the Science & Technology Department of Hunan Province, the Environmental Protection Department of Hunan Province, and the Education Department of Hunan Province to sign cooperation agreements with Shiga-ken of Japan, the Marche Region of Italy, and the Centre Region of France respectively. Based on the agreements, cooperation directions and working mechanisms have been specified to push forward the implementation of a series of projects.

　　According to Ye Jinsong, director of the Sister City Division of Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of Hunan Province, sister-city exchange should not be restricted between governments. More industries and departments are encouraged to be involved with concerted efforts for mutual development. Multi-level exchange between sister cities will facilitate the importation of advanced technologies, promote Hunan’s featured resources and industries, and finally achieve a win-win result for both sides.