News Share (Jan 1-31)

1. XMFAO, enterprises discuss cooperation with Europe

The foreign affairs office of Xiamen in East China's Fujian province hosted a discussion on friendly exchanges and cooperation with Europe.

Representatives from State-owned enterprises, Global Fortune 500 companies and leading private businesses took part in the event to share their cooperation experiences with Europe and give advice on developing Xiamen-Europe partnerships in trade, the economy and industries, and how foreign affairs-related organizations can improve their services to contribute to the city's "going out" strategy.

Policy support, information sharing, chartered flights, direct air routes, and protecting overseas Chinese-funded companies' power of discourse were among the topics that concerned these enterprises the most.

Officials from the foreign affairs office said that the office will continue to utilize its resources to offer tailored solutions to help enterprises expand their overseas businesses and contribute to regional economic development.

2. Official briefs foreign envoys on Xiamen's development

Zhuang Rongliang, vice-mayor of Xiamen, gave a briefing on Xiamen's social and economic development in 2022 and the city's work plan in 2023 to the foreign consuls general in the city on Jan 17.

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, attended the meeting.

Xiamen has effectively coordinated epidemic prevention and control and economic and social development needs, and achieved stable economic growth in 2022, with accelerated industrial transformation and upgrading, enhanced opening-up, and improved living standards, according to Zhuang.

In 2023, the city plans to prioritize scientific and technological innovation, speed up the construction of a modernized industrial system, and promote higher-level opening-up to push forward high-quality development, Zhuang added.

The consuls general also shared their countries' plans for cooperation with Xiamen in 2023.

Ng said that more cooperation between Singapore and Xiamen in the digital economy and green economy is expected, with more Singaporean companies taking part in Xiamen's growth.

Atsavapranee expressed his hope that Thailand and Xiamen will deepen port, biological recycling, green development, higher-level education, and research and development cooperation.

Oblena stated that she will work to promote bilateral cooperation in high-tech industrial parks, sister-city ties and culture.

3. Siming, Sarasota celebrate 15th anniversary of sister-city ties

Siming district in Xiamen and Sarasota, Florida, the United States, held an online celebration via video on Jan 19 to mark the 15th anniversary of the establishment of their sister-city ties.

Sarasota is the first international sister city of Siming district, and the two are also the first pair of district-level international sister cities in Fujian province.

Over the past 15 years, the two sides have carried out frequent exchanges in the economy, trade, education, culture, tourism and arts, which have borne fruitful results, according to Wang Huaqi, deputy chief of Siming district.

Miriam Kramer, president of Sister Cities Association of Sarasota, expressed her hope that the two sides will strengthen cooperation in the economy and trade, oceans and sciences. She also said that she is looking forward to visiting Siming again and taking part in Xiamen's big events such as the China International Fair for Investment and Trade.