1. Xiamen, Izmir attend China-Turkey friendly dialogue
Li Xiaoping, the director of the Foreign Affairs Office of Xiamen city – located in East China's Fujian province – attended the China-Turkey Non-governmental Friendship and Cooperation Dialogue hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries on Aug 4, via video link.
The dialogue was aimed at promoting friendly exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and Turkish non-governmental organizations and local governments – taking the opportunity of celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
Representatives from civil society organizations, think tanks of universities, and sister cities were invited to exchange ideas and discuss topics.
These included connecting the Belt and Road Initiative and Turkey's Middle Corridor Initiative, as well as jointly coping with regional security and public health challenges.
With the assistant of the Foreign Affairs Office of Xiamen, representatives from the Turkish city Izmir – one of the sister cities of Xiamen – also participated in the dialogue.
2. Xiamen, South Africa's Durban city hold video conference
The Foreign Affairs Office of Xiamen city – located in East China's Fujian province – on Aug 6 had its sixth online video conference with the municipal government of Durban, in South Africa.
The two sides discussed the two cities' joint participation for the construction of the BRICS Partnership on New Industrial Revolution innovation center.
They also discussed the holding of business match-making meetings and the signing of friendly cooperation agreements between the chambers of commerce of the two cities.
Li Xiaoping, the director of the Foreign Affairs Office of Xiamen, said that during the current special period, the two cities had maintained online communications and exchanges. This, Li said, was very beneficial in further promoting their substantive cooperation in epidemic prevention, as well as in tourism and culture.
The Durban side expressed their desire to further deepen exchanges and commercial ties with Xiamen's ports, economy, trade and tourism.
Lin Na, executive vice-president of the Xiamen Municipal People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, also attended the video conference.
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.
