Sister city relations promote cooperation

Regional cooperation is an important part of the Belt and Road Initiative, said a senior official at a thematic forum on cooperation on Thursday.

"Friendship city relations have become one of the important channels to implement the BRI," said Li Xiaolin, president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. "Sister city relations play an important role in boosting cooperation and exchanges among Chinese and foreign cities under the framework of the BRI."

Li said Chinese cities have established 2,629 sister cities and provinces overseas and have formed sister city relations with more than 700 cities in countries involved in the BRI.