A news conference for the upcoming 2024 China International Friendship Cities Conference (CIFCC) took place in Beijing on Nov 11, offering details about the major event and highlighting the friendship cities initiatives.

The 2024 CIFCC, organized by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), the China International Friendship Cities Association (CIFCA), and Southwest China's Yunnan province, will open on Nov 18 in Yunnan's capital Kunming.

Sun Xueqing, secretary-general of the CPAFFC, said that the conference will focus on aligning with the needs of international sister cities and local development, aiming to deepen practical exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and foreign local governments, and strengthening the social bonds and mutual interests supporting international friendships.

Since its inception in 2008, the CIFCC has become China's highest-level event of its kind. It has been held in major cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Chongqing and Wuhan.

This year's conference, themed "Shared Future, Shared Prosperity", will center around four key subtopics: technological innovation for smart cities, green urban development for public welfare, preservation of urban historical and cultural heritage, and enhanced transportation connectivity for a shared urban future.

In addition to the opening ceremony, keynote forum and parallel forums, the conference will roll out an initiative calling on friendship cities and governments worldwide to strengthen solidarity, deepen exchanges and promote cooperation. Around 20 agreements for friendship partnerships and collaborative projects are expected to be signed.

To encourage meaningful exchanges and cooperation, the CPAFFC and CIFCA will present the "International Friendship City Award for Outstanding Contributions" to 20 Chinese provinces and cities, and the "Friendship City Award for Outstanding Partnership with China" to 40 international provinces and cities actively involved in sister city exchanges with China.

The conference is expected to welcome about 700 representatives from over 120 cities and 60 government or friendship organizations across more than 40 countries, said Wang Yu, vice-president of the Yunnan Provincial People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.

Wang Ya, Kunming's deputy mayor, said the conference will incorporate elements of Yunnan's unique culture and Kunming's distinctive features, showcasing the area's cultural diversity and inclusiveness. A volunteer team of about 150 people will provide multilingual services in English, Spanish, Japanese and Arabic for international guests.

International friendship cities play a vital role in fostering people-to-people connections, economic cooperation and cultural exchange. Since 1973, China has established more than 3,000 sister-city relationships with nearly 2,000 cities and over 600 provinces or states across 147 countries, building a global network of friendship and cooperation.