After 15 years as Friendship Cities, Zhuhai and Suwon, the Republic of Korea are making plans to celebrate exchanges and visits concerning economy and trade, culture, tourism, and other contributions to good relationships.

Xing Haiming, Chinese ambassador to the Republic of Korea, said in a congratulatory video that Zhuhai and Suwon had a long history and this 15th anniversary offered a good opportunity to invigorate people-to-people and cultural exchanges and consolidate the firm bases of friendship.

The Zhuhai Foreign Affairs Office is preparing to hold a series of activities to celebrate the anniversary. The "China-South Korea Year of Cultural Exchanges" and its colorful activities, Xing said, would deepen exchanges and cooperation between the two cities, and play a positive role in the promotion of the China-ROK bilateral relationship.

As one of China's earliest special economic zones, Zhuhai enjoys an advantageous location as a vital node and port city in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and has a pleasant ecological environment. Suwon has a solid foundation in industry, advanced science and technology, and abundant cultural and tourism resources. The Friendship Cities cooperate from naturally endowed location advantages.

Xing expressed hope that the two cities would enhance the connectivity of their development plans, deepen cooperation in post-epidemic emerging and key sectors, and bring cooperation to a new level.

Zhuhai has increasingly expanded its international friends circle since 1987 when Surrey, Canada was named its first Friendship City. Now, Zhuhai boasts 16 Friendship Cities around the world. It is worth noting that this year marks the 15th anniversary of the Friendship Cities status between Zhuhai and Suwon, the Republic of Korea, and the 10th anniversary between Zhuhai and Brunswick, Germany.

Friendship City relations are said to have increased mutual understanding and friendship between Zhuhai and the world while boosting Zhuhai's multilayered cooperation with other countries in various areas.