A meeting attended by Huzhou and Aba officials on April 8. [Photo/WeChat account: huzhoufabu]

A government delegation led by Hong Hupeng, mayor of Huzhou, recently visited the Aba Tibetan and Qiang autonomous prefecture from April 8 to 9.

Aba, which falls under the administration of Southwest China's Sichuan province, has been paired with Huzhou as part of the "pairing assistance" initiative launched by the central government. This program aims to foster support from more affluent provinces and municipalities in East China for the underdeveloped regions of the country.

During the first day of the visit, Hong provided a brief overview of Huzhou's development in 2023 and reflected on the positive outcomes achieved through the collaboration between Aba and Huzhou over the past three years. He expressed his hope for both parties to uphold the principles of mutual benefit and cooperative success, establishing a new model of industrial collaboration.

Luo Zhenhua, head of the Aba Tibetan and Qiang autonomous prefecture, commended Huzhou's enduring support and underscored the substantial potential for coordinated development between the two regions in the future, given their longstanding ties and complementary advantages.

As part of their itinerary, the Huzhou delegation visited personnel dispatched from Huzhou, including officials, teachers, and medical professionals, who have been providing assistance in Aba.

The visit also witnessed the signing of a strategic agreement between Huzhou's Anji county and Aba's Jinchuan county, aimed at advancing bilateral cooperation in rural development. Additionally, a provincial industry research institute from Zhejiang entered into a partnership with Aba's Xiaojin county to develop creative cultural and tourism products.