From Tokyo to Prague, Beijing expands global partnerships

Capital learns from experience of its sister cities in tackling social problems

Editor's Note: Beijing, a center of international exchanges, is rapidly expanding international partnerships and friendships. In this special coverage for the G20 Leaders Summit, we run a number of pages on the national capital's latest efforts in upgrading its cooperation and integration with international communities, its progress in environmental protection and technological innovation, and cultural events that are making the city an attractive place to reside and visit.

Beijing has expanded partnerships with 53 cities around the world to boost its economic and social development after the capital was selected by the government in 2015 to be a center of international exchanges.

The role is part of the integration plan for the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei cluster set out in March 2015. One year later, Prague, capital of the Czech Republic, became Beijing's 53rd sister city after President Xi Jinping received the city's highest honor.

Prague Mayor Adriana Krnacova presented the Key to Prague - representing deepening friendship and partnership with China - to Xi soon after she signed an agreement with Beijing Mayor Wang Anshun on the new sister city status.

Tokyo became Beijing's first sister city in 1979. Beijing now has sister cities in 48 countries, including 22 in Europe, 15 in Asia and 10 in the Americas.

The agreement, which was signed during Xi's state visit to the Central European country earlier this year, will boost cooperation on culture, healthcare, education, tourism and sports.

Xi said the key, representing the deep friendship between the Czech and Chinese people, reminded him of Prague as a world cultural heritage site with beautiful landscapes and deep-rooted cultural traditions.

The president said exchanges between Chinese and Czech cities were vital to the development of the relationship, and he hoped both capitals will see breakthroughs in relations and local cooperation. Krnacova echoed his views and said she was excited to see Xi at the signing ceremony for the sister-city agreement.

As part of the agreement, the Beijing Commission of Tourism Development will help Prague review Chinese-language promotional materials for the city and make logos in Mandarin for tourism sites in Prague, according to the Foreign Affairs Office of Beijing.

The two capitals began official exchanges in 1956 and have progressed rapidly in bilateral trade and cooperation in healthcare, cultural exchanges and tourism promotion since 2014, when Czech Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek visited China.

Over the past two years, Beijing sent two high-ranking delegations of officials and entrepreneurs to the China Investment Forum in Prague. In December, Beijing Tong Ren Tang Group Co opened a traditional Chinese medicine clinic in Prague.

In October 2014, Karel Pech, chairman and founder of the Czech-Chinese Friendship Association, visited a pharmacy owned by the Tong Ren Tang Group in downtown Beijing and saw firsthand how TCM doctors treated patients.

Dr. MAX - one of the largest pharmacy chains in Central Europe, with more than 500 pharmacies serving 130,000 customers daily - signed a cooperation agreement with Tong Ren Tang in December 2014, according to the Beijing People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. One year later, the clinic was established.

According to the International Conference and Convention Association, Beijing ranked second in Asia in terms of hosting international conferences.

The partnerships have expanded the capital's economic cooperation and trade with its sister cities. Nine high-tech companies have successfully established branches in Washington to expand the market of North America, according to Beijing Office of Foreign Affairs.

Beijing also learned from the experiences of its sister cities how to better tackle problems such as environmental pollution, traffic congestions and garbage recycling. The Beijing Environmental Protection Bureau has forged exchange mechanisms with Seoul, Paris and London.

The Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport has held meetings with traffic authorities of Seoul and Tokyo to discuss traffic management in large cities.

huyongqi@chinadaily.com.cn