Zhongshan, a city of Guangdong, organized a series of events to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Zhongshan People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (ZSPAFFC) from October 19th to 20th.

The event attracted oversea representatives from 20 countries and regions, especially from the city's international sister cities as well as domestic representatives from the association's member organizations.

Established in July 1989, Zhongshan People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries has become an important organization and contributes to the city's people-to-people exchanges and its partnership with oversea institutions and associations.

To deepen the knowledge about Zhongshan and its business environment, the association also invited its oversea counterparts' to a business roadshow and a tour to the city's high-profile enterprises, the light industrial cluster and the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge, a major infrastructure project.

Moriguchi of Japan, is the first city to twin with Zhongshan, and the city's mayor, Katsuki Nishibata, has been to Zhongshan for three times devoting to the partnership between two cities. When visiting MinFound, a medical equipment company, he said Moriguchi has lots of companies that sell these high-tech products, and he hopes to bridge them with Zhongshan next time.

"The city of Zhongshan impressed me a lot," said Katsuki Nishibata, "we have forged a friendship for more than 30 years with extensive cooperation and communications. I hope to further our relationship through this event."

The event also include a certificate awarding ceremony during which the city's leading officials presented the certificates to the President, Vice President and oversea members of the association.

Thus far, the association has formed relationship with 17 international organizations and signed MoUs with 14 oversea cities. It also contributed to the sister relationship between Zhongshan and 5 oversea cities and between its subsidiary towns and its oversea partners.

Reported by Jasmine

Edited by Olivia Ouyang