Chen Qiuxiong (right), deputy Party secretary of Xiamen, meets with Jenny Mackay, a councilwoman from the Sunshine Coast in Australia, on Sept 8. [Photo/fao.xm.gov.cn]
At the invitation of Xiamen Municipal Government, Jenny Mackay, a councilwoman from the Sunshine Coast in Australia, led a delegation to visit the Chinese city on Sept 5-13.
They came to the city to attend the 2019 China International Fair for Investment & Trade, or CIFIT and to celebrate the 20th anniversary of sister-city relations with Xiamen.
Chen Qiuxiong, deputy Party secretary of Xiamen, met with the delegation on Sept 8 and briefed them on the city's economic and social development.
Chen said that since the two cities established sister-city relations in 1999, they have carried out close and practical cooperation in the fields of trade, tourism and community management, especially in education, culture, the arts and teen football.
He expected that the two cities would take the anniversary as a new start to bring more benefits to both peoples.
Councilwoman Mackay noted that Xiamen has made remarkable achievements in its economic and social development, environmental protection and its people's quality of living over the past 20 years.
She said she looked forward to closer exchanges with Xiamen in economy, trade and culture.
During their stay in Xiamen, the Australian delegation visited exhibitions at the 2019 CIFIT to explore cooperation in light rail and attended the Silk Road Maritime Shipping International Cooperation Forum, one of the significant activities during the event, to seek business opportunities in integrated circuits and infrastructure.
In addition, they also visited the Xiamen Municipal Bureau of Education, the Xiamen Nordic Contemporary Art Center, Xiamen Airlines and the Xiamen General Chamber of Commerce to discuss, among other things, holding joint art exhibitions, promoting tourist products and importing and exporting farm and dairy products.
The delegation also took time to observe the daily lives of Xiamen residents at the local Hesheng Community to increase their understanding of Xiamen's local customs and traditional Chinese culture.
They learned how to sing Nanyin – one of the four oldest forms of Chinese music preserved in its original state, serve tea, cook local dishes and practice tai chi.
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.
