Hainan forges sister relations with 63 regions worldwide

South China's Hainan province has established sister relations with 63 regions in over 40 countries across the world, according to reports from Hainan Daily on Nov 19.

The expanded number of international sister relations has helped the island province to further open up to the outside world, enhance its global exchanges, and promote international cooperation in various areas.

"I am very glad to see Hainan's latest development achievements. Hainan and Kazakhstan have promising prospects for cooperation in tourism and education. We are full of expectations for the construction of the Hainan Pilot Free Trade Zone and Free Trade Port with Chinese characteristics," said a senior diplomat who was part of a Kazakhstan delegation that recently visited Hainan.

The delegation's visit is one of the communication activities between the Mangystau region in Kazakhstan and Hainan, which signed an intent of agreement to establish sister region relations in 2016. The delegation members hoped to use their resources and influence in Kazakhstan to enhance bilateral exchanges and cooperation.

The South China province and Mangystau are expected to be sister regions within a short time.

As the cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries continues to deepen, Hainan's exchanges with Central and Eastern European countries are expanding, with wine trade and crystal processing projects carried out between Hainan and the South Moravian Region in Czech Republic, as well as the Sino-Europe industrial park established between Hainan and Plovdiv in Bulgaria. 

The Chinese island province has also teamed up with North American countries in certain areas, working together with the University of Prince Edward Island in Canada on professional talent training.

As of October, a total of 96 international airlines have been operating in Hainan province, bolstering Hainan's friendly exchanges with its sister regions in the world.

Closely linked with its sister regions across the world, Hainan has seen great vitality injected into its industries. The friendly exchanges have helped the province further tap into the potential of global cooperation opportunities. 

A diplomatic delegation from Kazakhstan pays a visit to Hainan. [Photo/dfoca.hainan.gov.cn]