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Shaoxing established friendship city relationships with Kairouan, Tunisia, and Asti, Italy, during the 6th Shaoxing International Friendship Cities Conference on May 29. To date, Shaoxing has formed friendship city or exchange relationships with 59 cities across 29 countries, spanning all five continents.

The signing ceremony for the friendship city agreement between Shaoxing and Asti. [Photo provided by Zheng Peigeng]

Since establishing its first international friendship city in 1983, Shaoxing has adhered to international exchange. Utilizing global platforms such as the World Textile Merchandising Conference and the Conference on Yangming Mind Philosophy, the city has hosted diplomats, business representatives, and friendship city delegations from around the world, fostering investment and trade cooperation.

The signing ceremony for the friendship city agreement between Shaoxing and Kairouan. [Photo provided by Zheng Peigeng]

Shaoxing has also sent delegations abroad multiple times, promoting local industries and culture, such as huangjiu (yellow rice wine), celadon, and pearls, through initiatives like "Shaoxing Week" and overseas market expansion for its enterprises. These efforts have attracted partnerships with overseas cities to establish new friendship city relationships.

Shaoxing has engaged in practical exchanges with its friendship cities across various areas, including youth, exhibition collaborations, and the alignment of specialty industries. These bilateral partnerships have continued to deepen over time.

The city will use the international friendship cities conference as a platform to showcase its development achievements, facilitate the implementation of more collaborative projects, and further expand its international engagement network.