重慶友城知多少

About the Sister Cities of Chongqing

Today, our program, About the Sister Cities of Chongqing, will introduce stories between Chongqing and Leicester in the UK, Voronezh in Russia, Mpumalanga in South Africa, and Düsseldorf in Germany.

Leicester, the UK

On October 11, 1993, Chongqing forged a sister city relationship with Leicester, the UK. As one of the industrial hubs in the UK, Leicester boasts a diverse array of trades and earns itself the title of “City of a Thousand Trades.” Notably, it focuses on three trades: textiles, footwear, and engineering.

Concurrently, the city is a commercial center, a shopping and entertainment hub, an emerging tourist destination, and an important conference locale in Central England, where the world-renowned University of Leicester is located.

Since the creation of a sister city relationship, leaders from Chongqing and Leicester have paid several mutual visits. Mayor of Leicester led a delegation to visit Chongqing for the 12th China Chongqing International Investment and Global Sourcing Fair. In 2023, leaders from Chongqing led a delegation to visit Leicester, commemorating the 30th anniversary of establishing the sister city relationship.

Departments and agencies in both cities have paid mutual visits, facilitating and conducting exchanges and cooperation. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the two cities extended mutual regards and actively participated in mutual assistance and collaboration. Chongqing University, Chongqing Medical University, and the University of Leicester maintained excellent long-term collaboration in domains such as joint educational initiatives, scientific research, faculty exchanges, and cooperative education programs.

Voronezh, Russia

Founded in 1586, Voronezh is one of the cradles of the Slavs and a hub of industry, science and technology, and culture in Russia.

On October 20, 1993, a sister city relationship between Chongqing and Voronezh was created, raising the curtain of friendly exchanges. Leaders from Chongqing led delegations to visit Voronezh several times. Officials of the Voronezh City Duma, such as the Chairman, Deputy Chairman, and First Deputy Mayor, also visited Chongqing. The two cities have carried out an array of exchanges and cooperation in fields such as trade, healthcare, education, and culture. An inter-parliamentary mechanism for friendly exchanges has been established between the Standing Committee of the Chongqing Municipal Peoples Congress and the Voronezh City Duma. Chongqing hosted trade exhibitions and fairs, such as trade conferences and product fairs, in Voronezh several times. Besides, the two cities have exchanged ideas and cooperated in realms including liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage technology, general machinery, and construction and building materials. Concurrently, Chongqing Third Peoples Hospital (Chongqing China-Russia Friendship Hospital) and Voronezh Hospital No. 8 (Russia-China Friendship Hospital) have collaborated in medical technology and expert training. Moreover, Sichuan International Studies University, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing Vocational College of Culture and Arts, and Chongqing No.8 Secondary School conducted inter-school exchanges, such as faculty and student exchanges, language courses and academic seminars, with Voronezh State University, Voronezh State Technical University, and Voronezh Dance Academy. Chongqing Daily and Chongqing Television Station have also fostered friendships with Voronezh news agencies.

Mpumalanga, South Africa

On October 18, 2002, Chongqing started a sister city/province relationship with Mpumalanga, South Africa.

“Mpumalanga” literally means the “place where the sun rises” in the Swazi language. The province lies in Eastern South Africa, bordering Mozambique. Its pillar industries include manufacturing, mining, agriculture, forestry, power generation, and tourism. Mpumalanga boasts a solid industrial base of scale. Its agriculture, forestry, and relevant processing industries are competitive. The province focuses on tourism, with unique resources encompassing grasslands, jungles, hot springs, wild animals, and tribal cultures.

In the past 20 years, government officials and delegations from the two sides paid several mutual visits. During these visits, cooperation and exchanges in fields such as trade, culture, tourism, and education were deepened through events, including seminars on economic cooperation and investment promotion conferences.

During the “Chongqing Urban Tourism Festival & Intercity Tourism Trade Fair (CQUCTF)” in 2001, the CEO of Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency visited Chongqing. In May 2001, a delegation from Chongqing visited Mpumalanga.

In October 2002, the Premier of Mpumalanga led a delegation to visit Chongqing. A memorandum of understanding on the establishment of the sister city/province relationship between Chongqing, the Peoples Republic of China, and Mpumalanga, the Republic of South Africa, was signed during a seminar on economic cooperation in Chongqing.

In October 2005, a delegation from Mpumalanga visited Chongqing for the 5th Asia Pacific Cities Summit & Mayors Forum.

In October 2008, the Premier of Mpumalanga led a delegation to visit Chongqing and signed an updated memorandum of understanding on the sister city relationship. During this visit, an investment promotion conference for Mpumalanga was hosted. In December 2008, leaders from Chongqing led a delegation to visit Mpumalanga. They signed a memorandum of understanding of work, prioritizing cooperation in realms such as economy, agriculture, and education.

In May 2010, a delegation led by the Deputy Speaker of the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature visited Chongqing, exchanging with departments such as the Chongqing Municipal Education Commission.

In March 2023, the Head of the Department of Economic Development and Tourism, Mpumalanga, and the CEO of Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency attended the China (Chongqing)-South Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation Seminar held in Chongqing via video link, expecting more economic and trade cooperation with Chongqing.

Düsseldorf, Germany

Chongqing, nestled along the Yangtze River, and Düsseldorf, lying on the bank of the Rhine River, developed a sister city relationship on July 22, 2004.

As the capital city of North Rhine-Westphalia, Düsseldorf is one of the most important economic and trading hubs in the region, where headquarters of world-renowned companies, such as METRO, E.ON, thyssenkrupp and Henkel, are located. The city highly values its international engagement. Düsseldorf boasts about 100 foreign consulates and economic and trade agencies. European headquarters of over 600 Chinese companies, including Huawei, are based here. Notably, Heinrich Heine, a famed German poet and friend of Marx, was born here. People named the University of Düsseldorf—which enjoys a good reputation in Europe and the rest of the world—“Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf” to commemorate the famous poet.

The Mayor of Düsseldorf and the Deputy Chairman of DCF (Deutsch-Chinesischer Freundschaftsverein e.V.) visited Chongqing with their delegations several times. Leaders from Chongqing also visited Düsseldorf with their delegations multiple times to facilitate cooperation in domains such as trade and culture. In March 2011, the China-Europe Railway Express was inaugurated, further deepening the ties between Chongqing and Düsseldorf. In November 2014, the Chinese Peoples Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries awarded Düsseldorf for “Friendship City for Exchange and Cooperation with China.”

In terms of economic and trade cooperation, Chongqing and Düsseldorf have hosted numerous promotions to promote trade between the two cities in recent years. The government of Düsseldorf sent a delegation to attend the First Smart China Expo & Mayors Roundtable for International Sister Cities of Chongqing, China in Chongqing. METRO operates multiple branches in Chongqing. Messe Düsseldorf GmbH also has an office in Chongqing. Moreover, the Logistics Coordination Office of the Chongqing Municipal Government has established a European liaison office in Düsseldorf. YUXINOU (Chongqing) Logistics Co., Ltd. has signed a logistics cooperation agreement with the Office of Economic Development, Düsseldorf, and the Economic Promotion Bureau of Duisburg.

The two cities are also active in cultural and people-to-people exchanges. The Sino-German Learning City-Urban Renewal Forum was held at Chongqing University. Sichuan International Studies University has set up Heinrich-Heine-Zentrum (Heinrich Heine Center). Schiller High School in Düsseldorf has paired with Chongqing Experimental High School (formerly Baxian Middle School) and conducted faculty and student exchanges. Furthermore, Sichuan Fine Arts Institute and Düsseldorf conduct regular exchanges among artists. Both sides hosted a concert to commemorate the day when the partnership was established at the City Square of Shanghai Expo Cultural Park. A series of cultural and trade exchanges were held by Chongqing in Düsseldorf, such as “Sensing China through the New Silk Road-Culture Mission for Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe International Railway.” Chongqing sent art groups to participate in Chinese festival events held in Düsseldorf several times. A traditional Chinese pavilion with double roofs and six eaves donated by the Chongqing Municipal Government to Düsseldorf symbolizes the cultural exchanges and close friendship between the two cities.

Source/Official WeChat Account of

Chongqing Foreign Affairs

本期《重慶友城知多少》欄目，為大家介紹重慶與英國萊斯特市、俄羅斯沃羅涅日市、南非姆普馬蘭加省、德國杜塞爾多夫市的故事。

英國萊斯特市

1993年10月11日，重慶市與英國萊斯特市締結為國際友好城市。萊斯特市是英國的工業中心之一，以行業眾多而聞名，有“千業城”之稱。其中，主要為紡織業、制鞋業和工程業三大類。

同時，萊斯特市是英格蘭中部地區商業中心、購物和娛樂中心、新興旅游及重要會議中心，全球知名學府萊斯特大學坐落于此。

自締結友城關系以來，重慶與萊斯特兩市領導多次互訪。萊斯特市市長曾率團來渝訪問出席第十二屆中國（重慶）國際投資暨全球采購洽談會。2023年，重慶市領導率團訪問萊斯特市慶祝兩市結好三十周年。

重慶與萊斯特兩市多個部門和機構互訪，積極推動開展各項交流與合作。新冠肺炎疫情期間，兩市互致慰問，積極開展互助合作。重慶大學、重慶醫科大學與萊斯特大學在聯合辦學、聯合科研、教師互訪交流，以及教育合作等方面長期保持良好的互動。

俄羅斯沃羅涅日市

沃羅涅日市建城于1586年，是斯拉夫民族最早的發源地之一，也是俄羅斯重要的工業、科技和文化中心。

1993年10月20日，重慶市與沃羅涅日市締結為友好城市，正式開啟友好交往序幕。重慶市領導多次率團訪問沃羅涅日市，沃羅涅日市杜馬主席、副主席、第一副市長等也相繼訪問重慶。

兩市在經貿、醫療、教育、文化等領域開展了一系列交往合作。重慶市人大常委會與沃羅涅日市杜馬建立了議會間友好交流機制；重慶市多次在沃羅涅日市舉辦經貿推介會、商品展等經貿會展活動；雙方在液化天然氣安全儲存技術、通用機械、建筑建材方面進行了交流合作；重慶市第三人民醫院（重慶中俄友好醫院）與沃羅涅日第八醫院（俄中友好醫院）開展在醫療技術和專家培養方面的合作；四川外國語大學、重慶理工大學、重慶藝術職業學院、重慶市第八中學分別與沃羅涅日國立大學、沃羅涅日技術大學、沃羅涅日舞蹈藝術學校等開展了師生互派、語言教學、學術研討等方面的校際交流；重慶日報、重慶電視臺與沃羅涅日新聞機構建立友好交流關系。

南非姆普馬蘭加省

2002年10月18日，重慶市與南非姆普馬蘭加省締結友好市省關系。

“姆普馬蘭加”為斯威士蘭語，意為太陽升起的地方。姆普馬蘭加省位于南非東部，與莫桑比克相鄰。該省支柱產業主要為制造業、采礦業、農業、林業、發電、旅游業等，擁有較好的工業基礎并具備相當規模。旅游業是其重點發展的支柱產業，草原、叢林、溫泉、野生動物、部落文化等構成了該省獨特的旅游資源。

20多年來，兩地政府官員及代表團曾多次互訪，通過舉辦經濟合作座談會、投資推介會等活動，深化兩地在經貿、文旅、教育等領域合作交流。

2001年，重慶市“一會一節”期間，姆普馬蘭加省政府投資促進中心首席執行官來渝訪問。同年5月，重慶市代表團訪問姆普馬蘭加省。

2002年10月，姆普馬蘭加省省長率團訪渝。在渝舉辦重慶—姆普馬蘭加省經濟合作座談會，簽署《中華人民共和國重慶市與南非共和國姆普馬蘭加省締結友好市省關系協議書》。

2005年10月，姆普馬蘭加省代表團來渝參加第5屆亞太城市市長峰會。

2008年10月，姆普馬蘭加省省長率團訪渝，在重慶簽署了友城關系更新備忘錄，并舉辦南非姆普馬蘭加省投資推介會。同年12月，重慶市領導率團訪問姆普馬蘭加省，與該省簽署工作備忘錄，確定經濟、農業、教育等領域為優先合作領域。

2010年5月，姆普馬蘭加省議會副議長率團訪渝，重慶市教委等部門與代表團進行了工作對接。

2023年3月，姆普馬蘭加省經濟發展與旅游廳廳長和經濟促進局首席執行官線上參加了在渝舉行的中國（重慶）—南非經貿合作交流會，表示希望與重慶開展更多經貿合作。

德國杜塞爾多夫市

長江沿岸的重慶，萊茵河畔的杜塞爾多夫，兩市于2004年7月22日締結為國際友好城市。

杜塞爾多夫市是德國北威州首府，也是最重要的經濟和貿易中心之一，世界知名企業麥德龍集團、EON能源公司、蒂森克虜伯鋼鐵和漢高化工等總部都在這里。

杜塞爾多夫市高度重視國際化發展，其擁有外國領事館和經濟貿易機構約100個，華為等600多家中資企業將歐洲總部設在該市。德國著名詩人、馬克思的好友海因里?！ずＤ錾诖?。人們為了紀念他，將享譽歐洲和世界的杜塞爾多夫大學命名為“杜塞爾多夫海因里?！ずＤ髮W”。

杜塞爾多夫市市長和德中友協副主席等曾多次率團來渝訪問，重慶市領導亦多次率團訪問杜塞爾多夫，推動兩市在經貿、人文等多領域合作。2011年3月，中歐班列開通，進一步密切了重慶和杜塞爾多夫的聯系。2014年11月，德國杜塞爾多夫市榮獲中國人民對外友好協會頒發的“對華友好城市交流合作獎”。

經貿合作方面。近年來，兩市多次舉辦經貿領域推介活動。杜塞爾多夫市政府派代表團來渝出席首屆中國國際智能產業博覽會暨中國·重慶國際友好城市市長圓桌會議；麥德龍倉儲式超市集團在重慶開設多家分店；杜塞爾多夫博覽會有限公司在渝設有辦事處；重慶市政府物流協調辦公室在德國杜塞爾多夫設立駐歐洲聯絡處；渝新歐（重慶）物流有限公司與杜塞爾多夫、杜伊斯堡經濟促進局簽署三方物流合作協議。

人文交流方面。兩市曾在重慶大學舉行中德“學習型城市”——城市更新論壇；四川外國語大學成立海涅中心；杜塞爾多夫舒爾文理中學與重慶市實驗中學校（原巴縣中學）結為姊妹學校，開展師生交流；四川美術學院與杜塞爾多夫開展藝術家定期交流；兩市曾一同在上海世博園城市廣場舉辦重慶—杜塞爾多夫友城日音樂會；重慶在杜塞爾多夫舉行感知中國——穿越新絲路渝新歐國際鐵路文化行等系列文化經貿交流活動；重慶曾多次派出文藝代表團參加杜塞爾多夫中國節活動；重慶市政府在杜塞爾多夫捐建的雙檐六角中式涼亭——比翼亭，成為兩市文化交流及深厚友誼的象征。

文圖/重慶外事微信公眾號