Long-standing French affair

At last year's Western China International Fair held from Oct 23 to Nov 3, the French city Montpellier again showed its robust friendship with Chengdu.

The city on the Mediterranean brought diverse contributions to the fair ranging from a photographic exhibition of scenery to a primary school project and a sports event as it sought more cooperation opportunities in the host city Chengdu.

The sister relationship with the Sichuan provincial capital started in 1981, the first pairing of sister cities in France and China.

Since then, Chengdu and Montpellier held frequent exchanges at all levels as cooperation expanded from healthcare into culture, education, trade and sports.

The first cooperative project that bonded the two cities was related to traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture.

In 2007, the Chengdu healthcare administration cooperated with a medical school in Montpellier, the oldest of its kind in Europe, to create Europe's first college diploma in traditional Chinese medical treatment.

Seven years later, the two cities saw another milestone in cooperation in the field as a research center for diabetes and senility jointly built by the Chengdu Hospital Authority and the medical center at Montpellier University, opened in Chengdu, aiming to integrate medical resources of the two cities and offer better medical services.

"I will recommend Chengdu to the French government as the first choice to carry out Sino-French medical cooperation," said Helene Mandroux, former mayor of Montpellier.

In education, Chengdu and Montpellier have had Chinese and French language classes at each other's primary and middle schools for decades. The French city now has six Chinese-language courses covering primary to high school.

The two also established primary schools named after each other's city. Chengdu Primary School opened in Montpellier in 2013. Montpellier Primary School opened in Chengdu last October.

Extreme Games

In sports, Chengdu became the first city in China to host the International Extreme Games. Held in October last year with the help of Montpellier, the event was so popular that attracted nearly 100,000 locals.

"The sports event originated in Montpellier, and the city made a significant contribution for us to win the bid," said a spokesman at the Chengdu government's foreign affairs office.

Chengdu will also host the event this year and in 2016.

Moreover, with Chengdu becoming increasingly international, more locals are incorporating overseas cultural elements into their local lifestyle such as a growing affinity for French wine.

One of the world's largest winegrowing areas, Montpellier has encouraged local producers to attend trade expos in Chengdu to boost wine exports.

In 2007 a Montpellier wine delegation participated in Chengdu's first international agricultural expo. In 2012, a delegation held a wine tasting of its home products at the Chengdu sweet food and alcoholic drink fair.

It also signed with the Chengdu EU Project Innovation Center to set up wine promotion channels in 2012.

Another way to strengthen Chengdu-Montpellier relations and boost communication is the Home of Montpellier, an organization in Chengdu sponsored by the two city governments set up in 2006 and now located at the a high-tech industrial area.

Chantal Marion, vice-president of economic development for the Montpellier Region, said at the ninth EU-China Business & Technology Cooperation Fair last year that Montpellier has built cooperation relationships with other Chinese cities such as Beijing and Shanghai but Chengdu is "the most important partner".

Also, the two cities have many similarities that help strengthened the ties. Both famous for beautiful girls and delicious cuisine, she said.

Chengdu is now home to operations of 158 companies and more than 4,000 students from Montpellier.

The close partnership between the two cities is a reflection of the flourishing ties between Chengdu and France.

Local officials in Chengdu believe that increasing economic globalization and China's new strategy for the Silk Road Economic Belt, which will improve communications among nations along the ancient trade route, will bring new opportunities to Sino-French cooperation.

At present, Chengdu is home to operations by a large number of French companies including 21 Fortune 500 companies like Groupama, Auchan, Carrefour and Lafarge. The companies are involved in a wide range of fields covering finance, retailing, R&D, manufacturing and public utilities.

The French consulate general that opened in 2006 in Chengdu has played an important role in promoting the business links between Chengdu and France.

Chengdu is famed for Sichuan cuisine, a culinary excellence it shares with sister city Montpellier.