The 2026 Hunan International Friendship Cities Economic and Trade Exchange Event & Cooperation Dialogue kicked off in Changsha on the afternoon of September 18. More than 300 international friends from 28 countries and regions gathered in Hunan to discuss cooperation, share opportunities, and create a win-win future. Hipólito Mejía, former president of the Dominican Republic; Mao Weiming, deputy secretary of the CPC Hunan Provincial Committee and governor of Hunan Province; and Lu Xiangdong, vice president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, attended and delivered speeches.

Also present were Wang Daoxi, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Hunan Provincial Committee and executive vice governor of Hunan Province; Jamol Ashurov, chairperson of the People's Deputies Bukhara Regional Council, Uzbekistan; Sam Kiri, president of Shefa Province of Vanuatu; David Jacquet, vice president of the Centre-Val de Loire Regional Council, France; and, Wang Wei'an, secretary general of the People's Government of Hunan Province.

The launch ceremony.

In his speech, Mejía stated that the ocean can separate territories but cannot block the desire of the two peoples to know each other. The Dominican Republic and China have always adhered to mutual respect, equality, and mutual benefit, with bilateral relations continuously deepening and fruitful cooperation achieved in various fields. The Dominican Republic is located at the core of the Caribbean region, with prominent geographical advantages, a vibrant economy, hardworking and innovative people, and enormous development potential. Hunan has a solid foundation and rich experience in such areas as agriculture, science and technology, and innovation, offering broad prospects for collaboration between the two sides. He expressed the hope that through this event, the Dominican Republic and Hunan will further deepen pragmatic cooperation in modern agriculture, economy, trade and investment, cultural and people-to-people exchanges, tourism, science and technology, and education. The two sides will work together to promote complementary industrial advantages, interconnected trade and shared prosperity, and mutual learning between civilizations. This will continuously enhance the well-being of both peoples to achieve mutual benefit and win-win results, he added.

Governor Mao visits the exhibition hall.

Governor Mao welcomed the guests. He noted that in recent years, Hunan has thoroughly implemented Xi Jinping's diplomatic thought, embracing the world with sincerity and openness. The provincial "circle of friends" among friendship cities has grown wider, the "circle of cooperation" in economy and trade has become more solid, and the "circle of shared aspirations" in people-to-people and cultural exchanges has expanded larger. Currently, Hunan has established friendship city relations with 120 cities in 47 countries and regions, using this platform to help more than 2,300 Hunan enterprises enter 113 countries and regions. Hunan's development now has reached a new historical starting point. Governor Mao expressed his hope to work hand in hand with all friendship city partners to enhance connectivity by broadening opening up channels; to write new cooperative chapters by expanding economic and trade exchanges; and, to foster mutual understanding by strengthening people-to-people and cultural exchanges. Friendship city relations can serve as bridges and bonds linking the world and pursuing shared prosperity.

Governor Mao takes a group photo with guest representatives.

Vice President Lu Xiangdong believed that international friendship cities are important vehicles for deepening people-to-people friendship, enhancing mutually beneficial cooperation, and promoting mutual learning among civilizations. He expressed the hope that all participants will take this event as an opportunity and, through international friendship cities as a bond, to further stimulate the internal momentum of economic and trade cooperation; maintain the stability and smooth flow of industrial and supply chains; and, consolidate the social and public foundation of friendship city relations, jointly writing a splendid chapter of international friendship city partnership. The Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries will continue to support Hunan in expanding international friendship city cooperation; advancing people-to-people exchanges, pragmatic collaboration, cultural exchanges, and youth friendship; and, amplifying win-win results.

Governor Mao meets with guest representatives.

The event, themed "Friendship Cities Empower the New Economy, Charting the Future of Business Cooperation," is scheduled to host a series of activities, including the Economic and Trade Cooperation Dialogue, the Thematic Industry Matchmaking Session, and "Hunan Enterprises Going Global" Investment Cooperation Matchmaking Session. It will also feature an exhibition on Hunan's international exchange achievements, and a showcase of premium products from Hunan's international friendship cities. The event aims to build a high-level platform for opening-up to help Hunan enterprises accelerate their expansion into international markets and expand exchanges and cooperation.

During the event, Governor Mao also met with the attending guest representatives and visited the exhibition on international exchange achievements, and the showcase of premium products from Hunan's international friendship cities.

This article is from Hunan Provincial Government. www.enghunan.gov.cn.

Translator: Yu Jiangjiang

Chinese source: hunan.gov.cn