Guangzhou is the first city in South China to establish sister city relations with others. In September 1979, Guangzhou and Fukuoka in Japan, signed a sister-city agreement to foster the two cities' friendship. To mark the 30th anniversary of the relations, Guangzhou will host the United Cities and Local Governments World Council Meeting and the Sister Cities Conference to mark its efforts over the past three decades. Liu Yan has the details.

Since Guangzhou had her first sister city in 1979, the city has developed similar relationships with 22 cities in 21 foreign countries. In addition, it has established friendly exchanges with another 13 cities in 12 foreign countries.

With a history stretching back 2,200 years, Guangzhou was one of first foreign trade ports in China and the starting point of the Maritime Silk Road.

Like its landlocked counterpart, the earliest maritime Silk Road can be dated back to the Han Dynasty, some 2,000 years ago. The maritime routes opened by Emperor Wudi provided access to the Roman Empire via India. It was the earliest maritime trading route in the world.

Through these trade routes China was able to actively seek out overseas markets and establish foreign trade relations. This laid the foundation for the development of cultural relations between China and the rest of the world.

In addition to transporting silk and other materials, these sea routes helped stimulate cultural exchanges. Countries throughout Southern and Southeast Asia, West Asia, and Europe dispatched emissaries to China via the new maritime routes to purchase silk, engage in trade of all sorts and established diplomatic relations.

In modern times, especially after China was opened up to the world three decades ago, Guangzhou's foreign relations with the outside world have blossomed.

The Baiyunshan, or White Cloud Mountain, is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Guangzhou. The scenic spot boasts China's number one landscape-style garden, the Yuntai Garden, which is also known for its combination of Chinese and western style architecture. Moreover, the garden stores 11 presents that were given by Guangzhou's sister cities in other countries.

These gifts include a nameplate from Los Angeles in the US, a cider jar from Frankfurt, Germany, and a sculpture of three dancer girls from Fukuoka, Japan.
Fukuoka was Guangzhou's first sister city. The two cities signed agreements and became friendship cities in September 1979. Like Guangzhou, Fukuoka boasts
a
history of maritime trade dating back more than 2,000 years.

Retired official Cai Songying from Guangzhou Foreign Relations Office recalls this unforgettable experience when the event took place 30 years ago.

"Back in those years when Guangzhou and Fukuoka established such relations as sister cities, various delegations from Fukuoka came to visit Guangzhou.

Meanwhile, Shindo Kazuma, the then mayor of Fukuoka, saw a sharp rise in popularity from his supporters for his achievements in creating friendly relations with China. Thus he won a second term as mayor of the city despite his advanced age."

Bilateral exchanges heated up in all fields between the two cities since they established sister city relations. One of the things that remain fresh in many older people's memories is the way the pandas were received in 1980. Two giant pandas from Guangzhou's Xiangjiang Safari Park were shipped to Fukuoka in March to live in its city zoo. The two-month display aroused great interest among Fukuoka residents, especially with the children.