A signing ceremony for the establishment of friendship between Xiamen and Santiago Metropolitan Region is held online on April 6. [Photo/WeChat account: XIAMENFAO]
Xiamen in East China's Fujian province and Santiago Metropolitan Region in Chile signed a letter of intent for friendly exchanges online on April 6, marking the official establishment of friendship between the two cities.
Huang Wenhui, mayor of Xiamen, said at the online signing ceremony that both cities, although far away from each other geographically, are renowned tourist destinations and hotbeds for innovation and entrepreneurship, which has created enormous space for cooperation.
According to Huang, the two sides have organized several online exchange activities since they came into contact in December 2020 to share experience in high-end technology, environmental protection and green transportation.
Claudio Orrego Larrain, governor of Santiago Metropolitan Region, expressed his hope that the two sides would hold more discussions on how to deal with climate change and strengthen the protection of water resources.
Diplomats from both countries agreed that the newly established friendship will further deepen the China-Chile partnership, and inject new momentum into South-South cooperation.
Chile was the first Latin American country to establish diplomatic relations with China. Santiago Metropolitan Region is the political, economic, cultural and transport center of the country. The region spans 15,400 square kilometers and has a population of 8 million. Both its population and GDP account for more than 40 percent of the country's total.
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.
