On August 18, Guangzhou signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Wuppertal, Germany to strengthen exchanges and cooperation between the two cities. Thus far, Guangzhou has formed friendly relationship with 93 cities of 61 countries worldwide.
Wuppertal is located in the mountainous region of North Rhine-Westphalia in northwestern Germany, with a population of around 360 thousand. It’s also the birthplace of the German textile industry, producing silk, velvet, linen, synthetic fiber, carpet and tapestry.
In addition, Wuppertal is the hometown of Friedrich Engels, one of the founders of Marxism, the city in which aspirin was develop and the city that owns the oldest and longest Suspension Railway.
Guangzhou is a core city of the rapidly-developing Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Since the reform and opening up, the total economic volume of Guangzhou has increased more than 140 fold, with the population exceeding 22 million and the urbanization rate reaching 87 percent.
According to the MOU, Guangzhou and Wuppertal will establish a long-term and stable mechanism for government dialogue and high-level visits, strengthen exchanges in humanities and academics, promote the development and incubation of technologies, and to strengthen cooperation in high-end equipment, artificial intelligence, digital creativity and industrial design.
Guangzhou started establishing sister city relationships with cities worldwide in 1979, and formed friendly relationship with Fukuoka, Japan in the first year. In 2021, Guangzhou continued to enhance communications with other cities through online meetings and the fight against the pandemic together.
According to the Guangzhou Foreign Affairs Office (FAO), Guangzhou is expected to have its 100th city with friendly relationships this year in 2021.
Author: Natalie (intern)