Weihai forges new sister city ties

Weihai in Shandong province signed sister-city agreements with Izumisano City, Osaka Prefecture, Japan and Daegu, South Korea at the Shandong International Friendship Cities Conference for Cooperation and Development on Oct 16.

Weihai has been expanding international cooperation since the establishment of its first sister city relation with Cheltenham, the United Kingdom in May 1987. The city now has 19 sister cities on five continents.

Last month, Weihai signed a cooperation agreement with Nikolayev, Ukraine and participated in the celebration of the 230th anniversary of the city’s establishment.

Over the past 32 years, Weihai has hosted more than 120 activities with its sister cities involving the environment, sports, art, talent, and Chinese medicine. It has established friendly relations with parliaments in over 20 countries and regions.

The city has held more than 30 youth exchange activities with over 3,000 participants from China and abroad, and a scholarship was set up this year for overseas students from sister cities to learn Chinese in Weihai for one year.

Weihai holds several events every year to attract investment in major industries such as port navigation, electronic products, manufacturing, food processing, and garments.

The city has also exchanged over 20 civil servants with Yeosu and Bucheon in South Korea.

Coastal scenery in Weihai, Shandong province [Photo/WeChat account: weihaifabu]