On March 31st, Guangzhou and Chiang Mai Province in Thailand signed an intention letter for establishing friendly relations. Both parties have committed to seizing the opportunities under the Belt and Road Initiative, seeking cooperation across education, academia, trade, investment, tourism, culture, agriculture, public health, healthcare sectors and the like. This move aims to boost mutual economic and social development, and deepen the China-Thailand relationship. To date, Guangzhou has established friendly relations with 106 cities (provinces) in 68 countries.

Situated in northern Thailand, Chiang Mai Province, about 700 kilometers from Bangkok, spans 20,100 square kilometers with a population of approximately 1.65 million. As Thailand's largest province, it serves as a hub for economic, trade, educational, and tourism activities in the north. Tourism stands as its pillar industry, followed by industry, commerce, and agriculture. Chiang Mai City, its capital, is Thailand's second-largest city. The province boasts abundant educational resources, including prestigious institutions such as Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai Rajabhat University, and Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna.

Guangzhou and Chiang Mai are both known as "cities of flowers." Guangzhou is home to blooms year-round, while Chiang Mai once hosted the International Horticultural Exhibition. On March 29th, centered around the theme "One Flower, One City",Guangzhou's kapok flowers and Chiang Mai's flame of the forestblossomed on the screens of Canton Tower, depicting the friendly relations between the two cities.

Guangzhou and Chiang Mai Province have laid a solid foundation for friendly cooperation in investment, education, scientific research, and other areas. Representatives from 10 organizations, including the Chiang Mai Chamber of Commerce and the Chiang Mai office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, remotely attended the Eighth Guangzhou Annual Investment Conference China's parallel session - RCEP and Guangzhou Development Roundtable in August 2022. Besides, Chiang Mai University frequently interacts with universities in Guangzhou. In 2022, it sent a video congratulating Guangdong University of Foreign Studies for the 50th anniversary of the establishment of its Thai language major. Additionally, in 2023, a delegation from Chiang Mai University met with representatives from Guangzhou University to explore cooperation in fields such as automotive design and Chinese language learning. These friendly exchanges have promoted mutual understanding and development between Guangzhou and Chiang Mai Province, setting the stage for the establishment of friendly relations and further practical cooperation.

Source: Yangcheng Evening News

第106个友城！广州市与泰国清迈府正式缔结友好关系

3月31日，广州市与泰国清迈府签署《中华人民共和国广州市与泰王国清迈府建立友好市府关系意向书》。双方将牢牢把握“一带一路”共建机遇，在教育、学术、贸易、投资、旅游、文化、农业、公共卫生、医疗等领域寻求合作机遇，推动双方经济社会发展，助力“中泰一家亲”走深走实。截至目前，广州市已与68个国家的106个（省）城市建立友好关系。

清迈府位于泰国北部，距离曼谷约700公里，面积2.01万平方公里，人口约165万，是泰国第一大府，也是泰国北部经济、贸易、教育、旅游中心。清迈府经济支柱产业是旅游业，其次为工业、商业、农业等，首府清迈市是泰国第二大城市。该府教育资源丰富，有著名的国立清迈大学、清迈皇家大学、兰纳科技大学等。

广州与清迈均有花城美誉，广州一年四季鲜花盛开，清迈也是一座古老的花城，是泰国世界园艺博览会的举办地。3月29日晚，围绕“一朵花一座城”主题，广州市花木棉花与清迈府花紫矿花在广州塔塔身竞相绽放，为两座花城的结好描绘了美丽的画卷，诠释了两座友城携手并进的深情厚谊。

据了解，广州市与清迈府在投资、教育、科研等领域已有一定的友好合作基础。2022年8月，清迈府商务厅、泰国旅游局清迈办事处等10家单位代表以线上形式出席第八届中国广州国际投资论坛年会平行分会——RCEP与广州发展圆桌会议。清迈大学与广州高校互动频繁，2022年向广东外语外贸大学“泰语专业创办50周年”活动发来祝贺视频，2023年派出代表团与广州大学探讨汽车设计、汉语学习等领域的合作。这些友好交往增进了广州市与清迈府的相互了解、促进了共同发展，为双方建立友好市府关系、开展更多务实合作奠定了良好基础。

文丨记者 邹丽珍 通讯员 穗外事
翻译丨邹晓华