Chiang Mai Province in Thailand.

Guangzhou and Chiang Mai Province in Thailand signed an intention letter for establishing friendly city relations on March 31.

Both parties will jointly seize opportunities for cooperation opportunities under the Belt and Road Initiative in fields of education, academics, trade, investment, tourism, culture, agriculture, public health, and healthcare to promote the economic and social development of both sides and deepen the China-Thailand relationship.

To foster a friendly atmosphere between the two cities, kapok, the city flowers of Guangzhou and the butea monosperma, the city flower of Chiang Mai, were showcased together on the Canton Tower.

To date, Guangzhou has established friendly-city relations with 106 cities and provinces in 68 countries.

Chiang Mai, located in northern Thailand, covers an area of 20,100 square kilometers with a population of approximately 1.65 million. It is the largest province in Thailand and serves as an economic, trade, educational, and tourism center in the north. Its primary industries include tourism, industry, commerce, and agriculture. Chiang Mai is the second largest city in Thailand and boasts rich educational resources, including renowned institutions such as Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai Rajabhat University, and Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna.

Guangzhou and Chiang Mai have already established a solid foundation for cooperation in the fields of investment, education, and scientific research. In August 2022, representatives from 10 organizations, including the Chiang Mai Provincial Department of Commerce and the Chiang Mai office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand attended the 8th China (Guangzhou) International Investment Forum Annual Conference Parallel Session - RCEP and Guangzhou Development Roundtable Meeting in an online format. Chiang Mai University has maintained frequent interactions with universities in Guangzhou. In 2022, the university sent a congratulatory video to Guangdong University of Foreign Studies for the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Thai language major. In 2023, a delegation was sent to Guangzhou University to discuss cooperation in areas such as automotive design and Chinese language learning.

These friendly exchanges have enhanced mutual understanding between Guangzhou and Chiang Mai, promoted common development, and laid a solid foundation for the establishment of friendly city-government relations and the expansion of more practical cooperation between the two sides.