(Sister City Story) China-Northeast Asia Expo Opens New Chapter in Sister-City Cooperation

The 15th China-Northeast Asia Expo was held in Changchun, Jilin Province, attracting more than 10,000 participants from over 40 countries and regions worldwide. Among them were delegations from many of Jilin's sister cities, aiming to deepen cooperation and share development opportunities.

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"In 2024, the total GDP of Northeast Asian countries exceeded 27 trillion U.S. dollars, accounting for nearly one-fourth of the world's economy. The region has become an important engine for development in Asia and beyond, with tremendous potential and bright prospects for cooperation," said Lu Xiangdong, Vice President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, noting that China attaches great importance to regional cooperation in Northeast Asia.

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In recent years, cooperation in Northeast Asia has continued to deepen, with closer economic and trade ties and vibrant people-to-people exchanges, injecting strong impetus into regional peace, stability, and prosperity. According to Lu, local-level cooperation, as an important part of state-to-state relations, plays an irreplaceable role in promoting friendship, practical cooperation, and common development. Since establishing its first sister-city relationship with a foreign city in 1973, China's international sister-city program has made steady progress.

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As of August this year, China has established 3,118 sister-city relationships with 151 countries, including 720 with Northeast Asian countries-accounting for 23 percent of its total. This number continues to grow. "The diverse exchanges and fruitful cooperation between sister cities and local governments have not only enhanced mutual understanding and friendship among the people of the region, but also contributed positively to regional peace and stability," Lu added.

Governor of Tuv Province, Mongolia: Weaving a Network of Neighborly Cooperation through Agricultural, Cultural, and Tourism Synergy

"Jilin's agricultural technologies and experience provide valuable insights for us in addressing the issue of food storage during winter," said L. Tumurchudur, Governor of Tuv Province, Mongolia, at the 4th Roundtable Conference on Local Cooperation in Northeast Asia held in Changchun on the 26th. He expressed high expectations for further cooperation with Jilin.

As a concurrent event of the 15th China-Northeast Asia Expo, the 4th Roundtable Conference on Local Cooperation in Northeast Asia was themed "Promoting High-Quality Exchanges and Cooperation for a Better Future in Northeast Asia."

Since officially establishing sister-province relations with Jilin in 2018, Tuv Province and Jilin have strengthened their friendship through co-hosting and attending the Northeast Asia Local Government Leaders' Meetings, as well as engaging in bilateral and multilateral exchanges in trade, culture, and other fields. Both sides have exchanged delegations and trainees, enhancing mutual understanding and consolidating ties with fruitful results.

"We mainly focus on fostering friendly and practical cooperation with foreign provinces and cities in agriculture-particularly in the innovation and advancement of crop production-as well as in education, healthcare, culture and arts, sports, and other social sectors. We have carried out productive programs and projects, continuously expanding our friendly relations," L. Tumurchudur noted.

In addition to in-depth exchanges in agriculture, people-to-people interactions have also become the "glue" of friendship between the two sides. In recent years, the two parties have continued to expand exchanges such as mutual visits and study programs for civil servants, the conferral of master's degrees in education, and language training initiatives, thereby fostering collaborative strength through mutual learning and mutual inspiration.

Teacher exchanges in the field of education, joint promotion of tourism resources, and cross-border cultural performances have further deepened the bonds of good-neighborliness in a subtle yet profound way. "Tuv Province will further expand and broaden its external relations and cooperation, and work with its traditional sister provinces and cities to implement more pragmatic and effective projects and programs to ensure the region's sustainable development," said L. Tumurchudur.

Japanese Exhibitor from Miyagi Prefecture: "My Dream Is to Open an Izakaya in Changchun"

"Changchun is my second hometown, and my dream is to open an izakaya here. I'll keep working hard," said Mitsunori Ono to reporters on the 27th, while attending the China-Northeast Asia Expo.

During this trip to Changchun, Jilin Province, Mitsunori Ono participated as a staff member of the Japanese delegation from Miyagi Prefecture. He not only speaks fluent Chinese but is also passionate about promoting the friendly relations between Jilin Province and Miyagi Prefecture. At his booth, a banner symbolizing the friendship between the two regions was displayed, stating: "Since Miyagi Prefecture and Jilin Province established a sister prefecture-province relationship in 1987, over 30 years of friendly exchanges have been maintained."

Currently, Mitsunori Ono resides in Dalian, Liaoning Province, where he has opened an izakaya and a ramen shop. Although his businesses have only recently opened, their authentic flavors have attracted many Chinese diners, which makes him very happy. "From 2004 to 2005, I studied at Northeast Normal University for a year, so I have deep feelings for Changchun. This city is truly my second hometown," he said.

Mitsunori Ono added, "Starting a business has always been something I truly wanted to do. Taking advantage of the China-Northeast Asia Expo, I returned to the city I love. Besides meeting old friends, I also wanted to walk around and take a look at the market."

Du Wei, Assistant Director of the Dalian Office of Miyagi Prefecture, also attended the Northeast Asia Expo as a representative of the Japanese delegation.

"Miyagi Prefecture has a long-standing friendly relationship with Jilin Province. We highly value the development of Chinese enterprises in Miyagi and are eager to create cooperation opportunities for both sides," said Du Wei. "I have attended the China-Northeast Asia Expo multiple times, and each time I see the changes in Jilin. Changchun is an open and inclusive city, and the people here are particularly warm and friendly. We hope that enterprises from both sides can deepen exchanges and promote cooperation."

Pakistani Businessman: Goods are Selling Like Crazy, Definitely Coming Back Next Time

Mohammad Zaki made a special trip to Changchun, Jilin, to participate in the China-Northeast Asia Expo. As a Pakistani businessman, he was quite surprised by the enthusiasm of the visitors, which he experienced within just one short day.

"This is my first time in China, and also my first time in Jilin," Mohammad Zaki told the reporter, describing his participation in the China-Northeast Asia Expo as a rare experience. He mainly brought goods like incense sticks and solid wood furniture this time. To his surprise, on the very first day of the exhibition, so many visitors showed interest in these products.

As he spoke, he opened his phone and played a video for the reporter. "This furniture is entirely handmade, decorated with copper. Look, these patterns are forged by workers using tools," Mohammad Zaki explained proudly, pointing to a solid wood table.

For Mohammad Zaki, everything here was new. For the visitors on-site, his fragrant booth offered a unique charm. Compared to other national exhibition areas focused mainly on food, this place felt more like a reception room: light an incense stick, sit on a solid wood chair, enjoy the aroma, and discuss cooperation.

During the interview, visitors kept coming to inquire about the scent, function, and price of the incense sticks. Within a short time, five or six visitors left satisfied, continually recommending the products to others around them. Seeing this, the reporter gave Mohammad Zaki a thumbs-up. He smiled slightly and said, "Extremely satisfied. I really like the city of Changchun."

After this exhibition experience, Mohammad Zaki is full of confidence for the future. "The China-Northeast Asia Expo is a platform for cultural exchange. There will be deeper cooperation between Pakistan and Jilin. For international friendly exchange events like the China-Northeast Asia Expo, I will definitely come again if I have the opportunity."

Delegation Representative from Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province: Look Forward to More Jilin Products Entering South Korea

Choi Seung-myeong, Chief Representative of the Gangwon Economic Development Agency (South Korea) Beijing Representative Office, attended the China-Northeast Asia Expo as the representative of the South Korean exhibition group from Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province. Jilin Province and South Korea's Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province have maintained friendly exchange relations for 31 years. He believes that as the influence of the Northeast Asia Expo continues to grow, the event creates favorable conditions for cultural exchange between the two sides.

As a "regular" at the China-Northeast Asia Expo, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province put considerable effort into both the booth setup and promotional displays. During the interview, the reporter saw that Gangwon's exhibition area covered a large space with many unique exhibits, including specially designed pet clothing for dogs and solid mouthwash that resembles candy. These novel products were very popular among young visitors.

Choi Seung-myeong revealed that Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province brought a wide variety of products to this year's Expo, mainly nutritional health products, cosmetics, and food. Since the inception of the China-Northeast Asia Expo, Gangwon has participated in almost every session. "This time, 28 companies are exhibiting on-site, each operating its own booth. Additionally, another 20 companies could not attend in person, but we brought over 70 samples for visitors to try and taste."

He was pleased to see that the exhibited products were very well-received by the visitors, which he believes is the very purpose of the China-Northeast Asia Expo. "Changchun is the capital of Jilin Province, its economic, political, and cultural center. Through the China-Northeast Asia Expo, more of Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province's key industries and products are displayed here, better promoting economic and trade exchanges between the two sides."

Choi Seung-myeong stated that the China-Northeast Asia Expo has become a platform for showcasing the image and strength of China-Northeast Asian countries. He hopes the Expo will allow more Chinese enterprises, especially those from Jilin Province, to learn about Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province's investment policies. While promoting excellent Korean products, he also hopes to see more high-quality Chinese goods enter South Korea.
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