Before the official establishment of the sister city ties, Xiamen and Izmir had conducted various exchanges. On Sept 8, 2014, Aziz Kocaoglu, mayor of Izmir in Turkey said that "Izmir will expand cooperation with Xiamen" in an exclusive interview with China Daily during his visit to the 18th China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT) held in Xiamen, Fujian province.
A letter of intent between Izmir and Xiamen to build a sister-relationship for further cooperation was signed during the 18th CIFIT.
Aziz Kocaoglu, mayor of Izmir, Turkey, sits down for an interview with China Daily in Xiamen, Fujian province, Sept 8, 2014. [Photo by Lin Ting for China Daily]
China has extended its 240-hour visa-free transit policy and Hainan's 30-day visa-free entry policy to citizens of Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam, the National Immigration Administration said on Aug 20.
