Guiyang, capital of Southwest China's Guizhou province, aims to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with other countries in education, culture, economy and trade, tourism, science and technology, and health in 2023, according to a news conference held on Jan 12.

Guiyang will continue to seek international friendships and cooperation exchanges, while also striving for assistance from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, national and provincial friendship associations, and national and provincial foreign affairs offices.

Guiyang hopes to establish friendships with more international cities by relying on resources from embassies, consulates, friendly provinces and prefectures, along with the help from international organizations, overseas Chinese citizens, and chambers of commerce associations.

Guiyang will encourage government departments at all levels, companies and schools to take part in sister city development. Currently, Guiyang has three sister cities and has friendly relationships with 21 cities. In the future, Guiyang aims to increase its number of sister cities and cities with friendly relationships every year.

Guiyang will enhance exchanges and cooperation with member countries of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, and sign letters of intention to establish friendly relationships with Cambodia's Phnom Penh City and Battambang Province, Thailand's Phuket Province and Chaiyaphum Province, South Korea's Pohang City, and Vietnam's Haiphong City.

Guiyang will also strengthen its cooperation with European cities in the fields of economy, trade, culture, science and technology, and education. It will focus on promoting friendly exchanges with Germany's Solingen City, the United Kingdom's Liverpool City and North Ayrshire State, and Austria's Graz City in the fields of advanced manufacturing, big data, trade and tourism.

Guiyang will attract advantageous projects through sister cities, while State-owned companies in Guiyang will further support private companies to go global.

Relying on international events such as the Big Data Expo and the Global Eco Forum, Guiyang aims to develop friendships with more cities. Guiyang will also participate in events hosted by international organizations, and strive to hold more international events in the city.