Sister city work is the most dynamic and creative part in local foreign affairs. As early as 1984, Wenzhou City, one of the fourteen open coastal cities in China, entered into sister city relations with Ishinomaki, Japan. Since then, it formed friendly relations with Union County in U.S., Alicante in Spain, and Prato in Italy. In more than three decades of friendly exchanges, Wenzhou has always combined the work of sister cities with its reform and opening up. On the basis of making friends and deepening mutual understanding, it pays attention to extensive exchanges in the areas of economy and trade, science and technology, culture, education and sports, and constantly explores new ways of exchanges of service to the economic construction of the city.

By the end of April 2020, Wenzhou has established sister city relations or friendly exchange relations with 32 cities in 22 countries on five continents.

1. Ishinomaki, Japan

Located in Miyagi Prefecture in northeast Japan and with an urban area of 137 km2, Ishinomaki is the second largest city in Miyagi next only to Sendai City. It has a population of around 120,000 and an annual average temperature of 11.5℃. Situated at Kitakami River’s estuary to the Pacific Ocean, it enjoys favorable natural conditions. Its offshore Kinkasan Fishery is one of the three largest fishery waters in the world, whose rich fishery resources make possible well-developed offshore, distant-water fishery and aquaculture industries. Besides, Ishinomaki also boasts some of the handful of natural fishing ports in Japan and large industrial ports, forming an industrial structure with all-around development in fishery, industry, agriculture and commerce. In recent years, Ishinomaki has grown into a major city in northeast Japan with the establishment of “Saint John the Baptist Hall”, Ishinomori Manga Museum and the comprehensive sports park.

Sister city relations between Wenzhou and Ishinomaki have been established since October 1984.

2. Alicante, Spain

Alicante is the capital of Alicante Province in the Valencia Region. Located in Spain’s well-developed southeast coast, it is a beautiful port city with a mild climate. Its annual average temperature is about 18℃ and its lowest temperature in winter is around 10℃. Alicante has a population of around 500,000, accounting for almost half of the population of the whole province. With natural advantages endowed by abundant sunshine and long beaches, it boasts a rapidly developing tourism industry and has become one of the eight tourism and resort zones in Europe.

Tourism is Alicante’s leading industry. Other rapidly growing industries include fruit growing in the primary industry, shoe-making, toys, building materials, food and textiles in the secondary industry, commerce and trade, finance and real estate in the tertiary industry. Alicante has complete infrastructure and convenient transportation. At the same time, as an ancient cultural city with a long history, it homes a large number of well preserved ancient architectural complexes with local characteristics and ancient ethnic styles. Twelve colleges and universities in the city train all kinds of necessary talents for the city. Among them, the University of Alicante is a renowned comprehensive university with a good reputation.

Sister city relations between Wenzhou and Alicante have been established since December 1995.

3. Union County, America

Located in northeast New Jersey in the U.S., Union County has a population of around 500,000. It is advantageously positioned in the metropolitan region of New York, only half an hour’s drive from New York. Elizabeth is its county seat with 21 cities under its jurisdiction, with Port Elizabeth, known as “America’s Capital of Containers”, being the largest deep-water shipping terminal for containers in America’s east coast. Union County is one of New Jersey’s most important commercial and industrial centers with many important corporate headquarters. Union County has quite complete educational facilities, including 161 secondary schools and 1 university. It also has world-class medical supporting facilities.

Sister city relations between Wenzhou City and Union County have been established since June 1998.

4. Prato, Italy

Province of Prato is located in the northeast of Tuscany, Italy, in the center of Florence and the plains of Pistoia. Established in 1992, it has jurisdiction over 7 cities including Prato Municipality, with a land area of 365 km2 and a population of 250,000. It is also a main traffic hub in Italy.

Province of Prato is one of the most developed provinces in Tuscany, Italy, in terms of urbanization and industrialization. It has textile as its pillar industry and became a famous wool processing and manufacturing center in Italy as early as the 15th century. By the middle of the 19th century, its textile industry had developed so rapidly that it gradually evolved into the center of Italy’s modern textile industry. The Textile Museum of the Province of Prato is one of a kind in Italy that displays mainly textile processes and arts and boasts a collection of over 5,000 textile pieces since the 5th century. In the meantime, Prato boasts a long history and profound cultural tradition. A multitude of historic sites, churches and museums which date back to the Middle Ages and the Renaissance Period have been preserved in Prato. Metal manufacturing in Prato is also sophisticated. In recent years, Prato’s service industry, tourism and information industry are booming, facilitating the economic and social development and innovation. It is worth mentioning that the Wenzhouese settling there have made positive efforts for the local economic and social development.

Sister city relations between Wenzhou and Province of Prato have been established since October 2002.

5. Burnaby, Canada

City of Burnaby joined the Canadian federal government in 1892 and was founded in 1992 one hundred years later. Now, it has developed into an important transportation link connecting Vancouver, Fraser Valley and inland provinces in Canada. Located at the geographic center of the Metro Vancouver area, Burnaby occupies an urban area of 98.6 km2 and is the third largest city in British Columbia, Canada, in terms of population. In 2007, its total population reached nearly 216,000.

Burnaby is a boom city seeing rapid development. A great many well-known large companies settled here because of the attraction provided by its strong economic vigor, favorable geographical position, relatively high quality workforce, etc. Well-known large companies that have their headquarters established in Burnaby include Telus (Canada’s telecommunication giant), Electronic Arts Inc. (the world’s largest developer of interactive entertainment and games software), Kodak, IBM, etc. In recent years, Burnaby has developed into a high-tech industrial center in the Metro Vancouver area. It boasts a favorable living environment, beautiful urban environment and has the largest per-capita park area in North America.

Sister city relations between Wenzhou and Burnaby have been established since November 2009.

6. Port-Gentil, Gabon

Located in west-central Africa, Gabon is a coastal country rich in oil and natural gas resources. Known as the “green gold” country, it boasts abundant forest resources, with 80% of its land covered by forests. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations with China, Gabon has maintained sound relations with China for more than 30 years.

With a population of near 200,000, Port-Gentil is the economic capital of Gabon and the provincial capital of the coastal Ogooue Province. Main industries include wood processing, petrochemical engineering, textile, cement, fish processing, etc. Given the finite water depth, the port in the city, which is also a fishing port, is mainly used for the lightering of petroleum and timber. Besides, there is an air station in the city. Since 1930s, gradual changes took place in Port-Gentil. In 1967, SOGARO, a refinery whose 25% of shares are owned by the Gabon government, was established, followed by refineries set up by international petroleum giants TOTAL and ELF.

Sister city relations between Wenzhou and Port-Gentil have been established since July 2010.

7. Ipswich, Australia

Located in the southwest of Queensland, Ipswich occupies an area of 1,089 km2. Its population is around 160,000, with its local residents coming from 115 different ethnic backgrounds and speaking 84 different languages. Ipswich enjoys a favorable climate all year around and has an amicable social environment. It has an extensive greening with over 500 city and natural parks. In the city, there are numerous historic remains and cultural constructions. Every year, events and activities with distinct local features such as horse racing and the Golf Cup will be staged in Ipswich.

The business community in Ipswich is vibrant, offering a wide range of employment and investment opportunities. Manufacturing and retail are two main industries in Ipswich. In terms of employment, the number of employees in the secondary industry exceeds 14,000, and the number of employees in the tertiary industry exceeds 35,000. Ipswich provides 43% of Queensland’s industrial land and is equipped with diverse industrial basis. Its economy depends on information technology, finance, insurance, property and business services, manufacturing, wholesale, retail, education, health care and community services.

There are two comprehensive universities (namely, University of Queensland and University of South Queensland), one Bremer Institute of TAFE and a wide array of public schools in Ipswich.

Sister city relations between Wenzhou and Ipswich have been established since April 2011.

8. Giessen, Germany

Located in the north of Hildesheim District in middle German and with a permanent population of about 100,000, Giessen enjoys a favorable geographical position, only 30 minutes’ ride away from Frankfurt, the aviation and finance center of Germany. It is dubbed “University Town” as it is home of 4 universities and colleges. Among them, University of Giessen, a renowned comprehensive university, was established in 1607 and currently has a student population of 25,000. Its founder is Justus von Liebig, who is considered the “father of the fertilizer industry”. In addition, Röntgen, a famous scientist who applied x-ray (also known as rontgen ray) to the field of medicine, was also born in Giessen. Statistics show that people aged under 35 account for 50% of Giessen’s population, and that around 70,000 people working and studying in Giessen come from 148 countries and regions. All these contribute to Giessen’s youthfulness, vigor and international drive. Meanwhile, Giessen has also established a high-tech R & D center here, which is competitive in information, biotechnology, nanotechnology, pharmaceuticals, food, environmental protection, machinery and electronics.

Sister city relations between Wenzhou and Giessen have been established since May 2011.

9. Ipoh, Malaysia

Ipoh is the capital city of Perak State in the western part of Peninsular Malaysia. Approximately 200 kilometers north of Kuala Lumpur, it is the fourth largest city after Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru and Penang. Located in the middle of the Kinta Valley and on the bank of the Kinta River, the city is surrounded by limestone hills and hence its name the “mountain city”. Ipoh is also the production area of tin ore in Malaysia, which is why it is called “Capital of Tin”.

As one of the largest cities in Malaysia, Ipoh has a population of nearly 710,000, ranking second nationally. Around 75% of its residents are of Chinese origin, most of whom are from Guangdong and Hakka. Cantonese is the most commonly used language among those Chinese descendants. Early immigrants were Hakka people who came to work on mining fields. Presently, Ipoh has developed into a major center of commerce, education and investment in Malaysia.

Sister city relations between Wenzhou and Ipoh have been established since March 2012.

10. Gisborne, New Zealand

As a developed country in the Pacific, New Zealand has good resources in science and technology, education, and environmental protection. It complements Wenzhou in economic transformation and development and urban internationalization. With a total area of 8,331 km2 and a total population of approximately 45,800, it is a port city on the eastern coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It boasts rich tourism resources and a well-developed wood processing industry and animal husbandry.

Friendly exchange relations between Wenzhou and Gisborne have been established since July 2019.

11. Weiz District, Austria

Weiz District is located in the eastern part of the State of Steiermark, Austria. It contains 5 regions and governs 31 townships, 2 administrative cities, and 8 towns. According to official statistics in 2015, it covers 1,098 km2 and has 88,696 residents. The capital of the district is Weiz City, which is the largest city in the east of Styria. It is also an important economic center and education center in the east. Thanks to its developed industries, many large European and internationally renowned companies settle here. The well-known ELIN electronics company was established in Weiz in 1908, on the basis of which many big businesses were developed, such as Weitz Siemens Austria Transformer Co., Ltd., Andritz Hydraulic Equipment Co., Ltd., ELIN Engine and KNILL Group etc.. The W.E.I.Z. Energy Innovation Center is an economic bellwether serving innovative companies, training and education institutions, start-ups and major scientific research institutions in Styria.

Friendly exchange relations between Wenzhou and District Weiz have been established since October 2017.

12. Lucknow, India

With an area of 2,528 km2 and a population of 3.6 million, Lucknow is the capital of Uttar Pradesh, India, and is the second largest city after Delhi in north India. It enjoys abundant historical and cultural heritages, convenient transportation and developed tourism, and is the economic, cultural and educational center of the region. Its GDP is among the top 15 in India and its main industries include information technology, manufacturing and processing, bio-pharmaceuticals, chemicals, etc. There are multiple R&D centers of large high-tech companies in the city, such as Indian retail giant Reliance Retail and Sony Corporation. With huge room for development, Lucknow’s handicraft industry accounts for 60% of India’s total exports. Its main export products are marble products, gemstones, jewelry, textiles, leather products, glass products, etc. Besides, Lucknow is known as “Women’s Shoes City” in India since its women’s shoes manufacturing industry is particularly prominent.

Friendly exchange relations between Wenzhou and Lucknow have been established since September 2017.

13. Ipswich, the United Kingdom

Located in Suffolk, northeast England, Ipswich is a port city with a population of 350,000. It has a 45-mile-long coastline, beautiful pastoral scenery, excellent geographical location, and valuable cultural heritages. The city proper is less than an hour’s drive from Stansted Airport, from which major European cities are accessible. The city boasts a rapidly-developing high-tech, with a high-tech corridor and technology company clusters formed between Cambridge and Ipswich City. Adastral Park, a sci-tech research center ranked among the world’s top five, also lies here. Thanks to the developed high-tech industry and convenient transportation, Ipswich is also the administrative, commercial and financial center in east UK, and one of Europe’s fastest growing regions.

Ipswich has a long history, witnessed by the 12 medieval churches in the city. It is a major town of the UK since the Middle Ages. In addition, Ipswich, with its harbor built during the 6th and the 7th centuries, houses a rich navigational heritage. Currently, its wharf is under revamping to reproduce its spectacular view in the Victorian era.

Meanwhile, Ipswich is an ideal destination of living. It has 800 acres of public green spaces, gorgeous beaches, harbors, rivers, and wilderness overgrown with Europe’s heath bamboo. It also owns first-class sports and cultural facilities, including Suffolk College, the largest adult education college in the UK. There are numerous brand-name exclusive stores, which have established cooperative partnerships with 140 town business centers in the country.

Friendly exchange relations between Wenzhou and Ipswich have been established since December 2015.

14. Kumasi, Ghana

As the second largest city in Ghana, Kumasi is the capital, and political, economic and cultural center of Ashanti Province. Known as “Garden City in Western Africa, and Golden Stool City”, it covers an area of 254 km2, and owns a population of about 2 million. In 1979, it was inscribed on the world cultural and natural heritage protection list by the UNESCO. Kumasi is a key industrial and commercial city in Ghana, with multiple cocoa processing factories, foodstuff factories, sawmills, textile mills, chemical plants and so on. It is especially famous for its traditional weaving and pottery handicrafts.

Kumasi is the trade hub of West Africa, where lies Ghana’s primary cocoa distribution center. It is also Ghana’s timber trade center, with half of the nation’s timber industry located in this city. Railway stations, airports and crisscross highways make the city easily accessible. Kumasi is also the birthplace of Kofi Annan, former Secretary-General of the United Nations. Kumasi Technical University (KTU), one of the three universities with the longest history in Ghana, is ranked among the world’s best polytechnic universities. The president of KTU has visited China multiple times, and was met by the Chinese ambassador in Ghana.

Friendly exchange relations between Wenzhou and Kumasi have been established since May 2016.

15. Gumi-si, South Korea

Located in the mid-west of Gyeongsangbuk-Do and along the Nakdong River, and with an area of 615.49 km2, Gumi-si owns the largest inland industrial park in South Korea. Its population reaches about 420,000, and it leads South Korea in per capita GDP, pillar industries, urban protection, urban infrastructure construction and so on.

Gumi-si has a long history and profound spiritual culture. It is famous for its electronics industry base vital to Korea, and is typical of South Korea’s emerging cities. In the early 1970s, under the guidance of export-oriented policies, the South Korean government established the National Industrial Group in Gumi-si, making Gumi-si an emerging inland export industrial base in southeast South Korea mainly to produce electronic equipment. With the rapid development of the city, Gumi-si has become the center of Gyeongsangbuk-Do attracting wide attention in South Korea.

Friendly exchange relations between Wenzhou and Gumi-si have been established since August 2015.

16. Slagelse, Denmark

Slagelse, with a population of approximately 80,000, is located in the western Zealand of Denmark and between the capital city Copenhagen and the third largest city Odense of the country. It is about 100 kilometers southwest of Copenhagen, close to a port, from which cargoes can be shipped to the Baltic countries and Hamburg. Slagelse boasts a complete infrastructure and convenient transportation.

Slagelse has the most advanced clean energy technology and recycling economy development program in Denmark as well as related industrial clusters. It is one of Denmark’s few cities that completely use green energy. Located in Slagelse is one of Denmark’s largest food production bases, and one of the two production bases of Arla Foods Amba which is the world’s second and Europe’s first dairy company. In addition, the city is also the seat of the Danish Food Safety Department and the National Food and Agricultural Center.

Slagelse is strong in modern psychiatric treatment, technical services for physically- and mentally-disabled persons, public health, and social welfare like pensions. Besides the capital Copenhagen, it owns one of the largest and most important art and vocational education bases in Denmark. The well-known fairy tale writer Andersen once studied here. The Slagelse Campus of Danish Academy of Business and Technology, as Denmark’s oldest university, can date back to 1866.

Friendly exchange relations between Wenzhou and Slagelse have been established since February 2016.

17. Ninth District, Austria

As the capital of Austria and with a population of about 1.7 million, Vienna is Austria’s largest city and political center. It is also a world-renowned cultural city, reputed as “music capital”. One of the four United Nations offices, the headquarters of OPEC, OSCE and IAEA and other international agencies are located in Vienna.

The Ninth District of Vienna, also known as the Alsergrund, is situated in the center of Vienna, with an area of 2.99 km2 and a population of 39,000. It is the hometown of the famous musician Schubert. The district, with abundant resources and strong economic potential, boasts highly developed economic, cultural, educational, medical and health undertakings. It has rich experience in vocational education, adult education and cultural industry management, and has taken related initiatives effectively. In the district, there are excellent schools, the largest hospital in Austria, People’s Opera House, and former residences for Freud and Schubert.

Friendly exchange relations between Wenzhou and the Ninth District of Vienna have been established since September 2014.

18. The Hague, the Netherlands

Located on the west coast of the Netherlands, 3 kilometers from the North Sea, the Hague, with an area of about 100 km2 and a population of about 470,000, is the third largest city in the Netherlands, which is the seat of the Dutch government and parliament, and foreign embassies.

“The Hague” means “the Earls’ Forests”, for it was an area for noblemen’s hunting when it was built in 1370. In the sixteenth century, the Hague became the center of Dutch people’s resistance to the Spanish reign, and was turned to the capital by the resistance movement leader William in 1559. In 1580, the Dutch parliament held its first meeting in Hague, after which the Hague gradually developed into the political center of the Netherlands.

The Hague is dominated by light industries, with major industries including paper-making, printing, publishing, clothing, furniture, electronics, medicine, food processing, etc. Quite a few large banks and companies are also based in the city. International Law School, the Royal Academy of Plastic Arts, and many other academic institutions are located in the Hague, making the city a famous cultural center in the Netherlands. In addition, the Hague is also a tourist attraction with the famous Scheveningen beach in the vicinity. The International Court of Justice is housed in the Peace Palace of the Hague.

Friendly exchange relations between Wenzhou and the Hague have been established since September 2014.

19. Castellón, Spain

Castellón is a province in the northern part of Comunitat Valencia on the eastern coast of Spain facing the Mediterranean. With a population of more than 600,000, and covering an area of 6,632 km2, Castellón is one of the three affiliated provinces of Comunitat Valencia. Agriculture and porcelain are its two pillar industries.

As the capital of the Valencia Kingdom in the ancient times, Castellón developed economy early, and has a long history of foreign trade. The province is adjacent to three Spanish key trade ports with developed economy, enjoying a favourable geographical position. Castellón Port is an important port on the Mediterranean coast.

Friendly exchange relations between Wenzhou and Castellón have been established since May 2013.

20. Ambato, Ecuador

With a population of about 290,000, Ambato, Capital of Tungurahua Province, Ecuador, is located in a low-lying land of Andes along the Omonimo River. It has a dry and mild climate, with an average temperature of 14C° to 19 C°.

Ambato is a well-known tourism city with a strong economy in the country. Ranking fourth among the developed cities in Ecuador, it is an important business center and transportation hub. It is reputed as the “Capital of Flowers and Fruits”, “Phoenix of Ecuador”, “Globalized Metropolis”, and “ ‘Back Garden’ of Ecuador”.

Friendly exchange relations between Wenzhou and Ambato have been established since May 2013.

21. Walvis Bay, Namibia

With a population of 65,000, Walvis Bay, also known as Whale Bay, is the second largest city in Namibia and the fifth largest port in south Africa. It is located along the west coast of Namibia and has the Atlantic to its west and Africa’s oldest desert - the Namib Desert - to its east. Walvis Bay is the only deep water port and shipping center in Namibia which handles 90% of the nation’s sea cargoes. It can anchor ships of up to 30,000 tons and has an annual throughput of over 2 million tons. It is the only deep-water port along the Atlantic coast 2,000 to 3,000 kilometers long between Angola and Cape Town, South Africa. Besides, Walvis Bay is also Namibia’s major business and trade center and is Namibia’s largest fishery center.

Friendly exchange relationship between Wenzhou and Walvis Bay was established in November 2008.

22. Kouvola, Finland

Kouvola is a railway hub city in southeast Finland. It is located 134 kilometers northeast of the capital city Helsinki, 60 kilometers to the west borders of Russia and 130 kilometers away from the Helsinki-Vantaa Airport. It is also home to Finland’s largest central railway switch-yard, where millions of tons of cargoes are transshipped each year. The well-known Trans-Siberian Railway travels through Russia to its terminal in Kouvola, lasting around 10,000 kilometers in total. It connects major industrial countries in the Far East such as China and Russia with the northern region of the European Union and serves as an express railway link to all members of EU. A large portion of exports from China are transshipped in Kouvola to the rest of the world.

Friendly exchange relations between Wenzhou and Kouvola have been established since October 2008.

23. Vallensbæk, Denmark

Vallensbæk Kommune is a municipality in Region Hovedstaden on the east coast of Zealand in Denmark. With Vallensbæk being its capital, it covers an area of 9.15 km2, and has a population of 13,000 in 2009. Although Vallensbæk Kommune is not large in area and population among the municipalities (equivalent to China’s cities in administrative ranking), it nurtures great potential for development. Only about 15 minutes drive from the Danish capital Copenhagen, Vallensbæk has perfect public facilities, and is renowned for sports and leisure events held in the municipality.

Friendly exchange relations between Wenzhou and Vallensbæk Kommune have been established since May 2013.

24. Pittsburgh, California, America

Pittsburg is located in the East Bay region of San Francisco on the west coast of America. It occupies a land area of 28.156 km2, a water area of 2.62 km2 and is one of the most advanced inland water harbor cities. Pittsburg boasts superior inland transportation network and possesses modern energy bases, steel bases and environmental and recycle processing center for waste and foreign materials. At present, its emerging industries include software, telecommunications, medical technology and biotechnology. Pittsburg is known as one of the most livable and culturally, economically and commercially advanced areas in the world.

Friendly exchange relations between Wenzhou and Pittsburg have been established since September 2008.

25. Levallois, France

Levallois, founded around 150 years ago, is located on the bank of upper Seine River in the suburb of Paris. It has about 60,000 permanent residents and occupies 242 hectares. As a modern urban area both for residence and office purposes, it enjoys convenient transport, complete educational and athletic facilities. Because of its geographical advantage of neighboring Paris, dozens of the Fortune 500 companies from over 31 countries have their regional or global headquarters established in Levallois. These companies include Carrefour, L’Oreal, Alstom, etc., whose tax revenues contribute to over 75% of the city’s fiscal incomes. Levallois is a city full of youthfulness and vigor. Its municipal government stresses the peaceful co-existence between different ethnic groups and nations and the harmony between man and nature.

Friendly exchange relations between Wenzhou and Levallois have been established since September 2007.

26. Kure, Japan

Kure is a port city in southeast Japan. It is a deep-water and ice-free port and was Japan’s military harbor during World War II. Its industries are featured mainly by heavy machine manufacturing that supports Japan’s military industry. It has a total area of 353.84 km2 and a population of around 250,000. In the post WWII era, Kure has been seeking active development of its heavy industry and it has currently formed an industrial cluster centering on ship-building, steel and iron industries.

Friendly exchange relations between Wenzhou and Kure have been established since October 2006.

27. Central District, Incheon, South Korea

With a total population of over 80,000, Central District, Incheon is located near Seoul, capital of South Korea. It is the site of port of Incheon, Korea’s second largest port city which also homes Seoul International Airport. In addition to the major industry of electronics, Incheon is developed in industries such as tourism, commerce and logistics. There is a China town in Incheon.

Friendly exchange relations between Wenzhou and Central District of Incheon have been established since October 2006.

28. Gwangju, South Korea

Gwangju is located in the southwest of South Korea, with an area of 501 km2 and a population of 1.48 million. Its annual average temperature is 13.6℃ and has a temperate humid monsoon climate. It was established as a municipality in 1949 and upgraded to a metropolitan city in 1995. With rich historical and cultural heritages, it is an administrative, military, economic, social and cultural hub city in the southwest of South Korea.

In terms of its industrial sectors, the primary, secondary and tertiary sectors account for 2.0%, 13.0% and 85% respectively. According to the 2009 statistics, Gwangju has over 7,300 manufacturing companies, including famous companies such as KIA Motors, Samsung Gwangju Electonics, LG, Kumho Tire Co., Daewoo Electronics, etc.

Gwangju is well developed in education. It has 16 colleges and universities, including Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Chonnam University, Chosun University, Honam University, Nambu University, Gwangju University, Gwangju Women’s University, etc. With an advanced culture industry, Guangju is dubbed “Capital of Culture and Art”. It is also known as “the safest city in South Korea”.

Friendly exchange relations between Wenzhou and Gwangju have been established since March 2012.

29. Barcelona, Spain

Dubbed the “bright pearl of the Iberian Peninsula”, Barcelona is the capital of Barcelona Province in the Catalonia region. It is a major port city and commercial center facing the Mediterranean Sea in northeast Spain. Located between the mouths of the rivers Llobregat and Besos, it has an area of 101.9 km2, a population of about 1.6 million and is Spain’s second largest city only after Madrid.

Barcelona is a port city in Catalonia, a world famous sight-seeing destination along the Mediterranean Sea, a renowned historical and cultural city in the world and also the most important trade, industrial and financial center in Spain. The Port of Barcelona is also the largest port and distributing wharf along the Mediterranean Sea. Currently, Barcelona has over 250 flight courses connecting over 100 countries and regions.

Friendly exchange relations between Wenzhou and Barcelona have been established since January 2011.

30. Bexar County, Texas, America

Located in the state of Texas in southwest America, Bexar County occupies an area of 3,255 km2. It has a population of 1,392,931, ranking 4th in all counties in Texas and 25th in all those nationally. Its county seat is San Antonio, the 8th largest city in America. This area is least affected by America’s financial crisis and has the fastest economic recovery rate after the crisis hit. It is leading in job creation and growth, quality life assurance and the generation of business and trade opportunities.

Bexar County is in an area where Texas meets the northern part of Mexico. This region constitutes a US-Mexico automobile industrial belt thanks to an advanced automobile industry and a mature auto parts industrial cluster. It is also a major industrial area and logistics center in southern America. Currently, Bexar County is aiming to construct a high-end product manufacturing center featured by an automobile industrial belt.

Friendly exchange relations between Wenzhou and Bexar County have been established since December 2010.

31. Saint Petersburg, Russia

Located on the east coast of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea, Saint Petersburg is the second largest city in Russia. It has a total area of 1,439 km2 and a population of 5.13 million. The city comprises of 44 islands and has 580 bridges, thus dubbed “Venice of the North”. The Neva River is its mother river that composes large network of waterways and picturesque landscape.

With a history of over 300 years, Saint Petersburg boasts a rich collection of Western European style architectures including the Winter Palace, the Peter and Paul Fortress, Saint Isaac’s Cathedral, etc. Historically, it was the cradle of Russia’s Revolution of 1905 and the birthplace of three other revolutions.

As the second largest transportation hub in Russia, Saint Petersburg has 12 trunk railways. It is also the largest seaport in Russia. Main industrial sectors include ship building, chemical engineering, heavy machinery, precision equipment and instruments, radio component parts, etc. Light industry such as food processing is also fairly developed.

Friendly exchange relations between Wenzhou and Saint Petersburg have been established since December 2010.

32. Napoli, Italy

Napoli is the capital city of Campania and Napoli Province in Italy. With an area of 117 km2 and a population of about 1 million, it is the third largest city in Italy after Rome and Milan, and also an ancient city in south Italy with a long historical standing.

Situated on the north coast of the picturesque Gulf of Napoli, Napoli has its urban area on the flat coast and the low hillside of around 10 kilometers leading to Vesuvius Volcano. It enjoys superior natural conditions, geographical position, beautiful environment and pleasant climate. Well connected by railway, road, sea and air, it has quite an advanced transport network. The Port of Napoli is one of the world’s oldest ports and the most important ports in the Mediterranean Sea.

Friendly exchange relations between Wenzhou and Napoli have been established since April 2009.

33. Dimona, Israel

Dimona is the third-largest city in the Negev region of southern Israel, founded in 1955 with a population of 34,500 (as of 2019). In 2018, Dimona signed infrastructure development agreements with the Israeli government, aiming to reach a population of 120,000 within ten to fifteen years. In addition to its key industries of chemical engineering, high-tech and service, its solar energy industry accounts for an important part of the country. Dimona has a well-developed education system and is currently promoting cultural and educational projects.

Friendly exchange relations between Wenzhou and Dimona have been established since November 2020.

34. Turin, Italy

Turin is the capital city of both the Piedmont region and the Metropolitan City of Turin in Italy, located approximately 140 km (87 mile) away from Milan, surrounded by the Alps to the northwest. The central area of Turin covers an area of 130.17 square kilometers, with a population of 911,534, making it the fourth-largest city in Italy by population. Turin is an international city known as the "cradle of Italian liberty" and the "capital of the Alps". It has numerous cultural facilities and other attractions. Many Italian institutions of higher education are located there, such as the University of Turin, Polytechnic University of Turin, and Turin Academy of Fine Arts. Furthermore, Turin is one of Italy's industrial centers, following Rome and Milan, and is the third-largest city in Italy.

Sister city relations between Wenzhou and Turin have been established since September 2021.