1. Xiamen, Phuket celebrate 5th sister-city anniversary
Xiamen in East China's Fujian province and Phuket province in Thailand on June 16 celebrated the fifth anniversary of the establishment of their sister-city relationship by video link.
Phuket became twinned with Xiamen on May 11, 2017, making it Xiamen's 19th sister city and the first from Thailand.
Anupap Rodkwan Yodrabam, vice-governor of Phuket province, said at the event that the all-round cooperation between the two metropolises had achieved great results over the past five years.
Zhuang Rongliang, vice-mayor of Xiamen, gave a presentation on the friendly exchanges between the two sides since 2008. He noted that the two cities had achieved remarkable results in exchanges in education, culture, tourism and training people through various activities.
Pirawat Atsavapranee, consul general of Thailand in Xiamen, also attended. He said that the event not only celebrated new progress in bilateral relations, but also marked an important milestone in strengthening exchanges and mutual learning between the two.
The event also celebrated the opening in Phuket of the sixth Chinese Publication Exhibition Tour in Southeast Asia.
The exhibition is putting on show more than 400 volumes of Chinese and Thai books. They cover traditional Chinese culture, health, education, youth literature and comic books, among others.
2. Xiamen exhorts its businesses to invest in Mexico
Xiamen city is encouraging its businesses to put their money where their mouth is and to invest in Mexico.
In order to help local enterprises better explore the Mexican market, the foreign affairs office of Xiamen and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Xiamen Committee jointly held an economic and trade investment video exchange meeting on June 21.
More than 10 local enterprises, including Xiangyu Group, C&D Inc and ITG Group, participated in the online meeting.
Lin Na, executive vice-president of the Xiamen Municipal People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, chaired the meeting.
She said this year marked the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Mexico. Sister-city exchanges and cooperation were an important embodiment and driving force behind the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, she added.
Recently, Xiamen and the sister city of Guadalajara in Mexico has been focusing on increased commerce and trade, investment and other fields – paving the way for the sister-city relationship to become a bridge for Xiamen enterprises to develop in Mexico, Lin added.
Santiago Toledo Teja, economic counselor of the Mexican Embassy in China, also participated in the video meeting. He gave a presentation on Mexico's manufacturing industry export competitiveness, preferential foreign investment policies, broad domestic consumer market, among other things.
3. Xiamen foreign affairs office meets foreign consulates
The foreign affairs office of Xiamen held the 14th Four-party Joint Meeting with the consulates general of the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand in the port city on June 24.
Zhang Quan, director general of Xiamen foreign affairs office; Nelson Ng Chiun Ming, consul general of Singapore in Xiamen; Pirawat Atsavapranee, consul general of Thailand in Xiamen and Maria Antonina Mendoza Oblena, consul general of the Philippines in Xiamen, participated in the meeting.
Zhang Quan gave a briefing on the city's economic development in the first half of this year, as well as key development areas and major activities in the second half.
The three consuls general said they would actively promote practical cooperation between their countries and Xiamen in the fields of the economy, trade and investment, culture and education and in green and low-carbon industries.
The four parties also discussed supporting the construction of the Maritime Silk Road Central Legal District in Xiamen and participating in the upcoming 2022 China International Fair for Investment and Trade and other events.
China announced and implemented on May 15 a policy allowing visa-free entry of foreign tourist groups aboard cruise ships via all cruise ship ports along the country's coastline.
China and Georgia are set to waive visa requirements for travelers starting May 28.
