Zhangjiajie and Mörbisch of Austria signed an agreement on establishing friendship city relations at a video conference on December 21, 2020. 

This is Zhangjiajie’s 7th international friendship city, after Hadong County of South Korea; Santa Fe City of U.S.A.; Naruto of Japan; Koka of Japan; Aix-les-Bains of France; and, Luang Prabang of Laos.

The conference was held in Zhangjiajie, Mörbisch, and Changsha simultaneously. The leaders present at the conference included: Li Xiaosi, Chinese ambassador to Austria; Xu Zhengxian, director of the Office of Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Hunan Provincial Committee; and, Birgit Murr, commercial consul of the Consulate General of Austria in Chengdu, and also director of the commercial section of the Consulate General of Austria in Guangzhou. 

Guo Zhenggui, secretary of the CPC Zhuangjiajie Municipal Committee, attended and addressed the conference. Zhangjiajie Mayor Liu Ge’an and Mörbisch Mayor Binder talked via video call, and inked the agreement on establishing friendship city relationship.

Shan Zhufei, standing committee member and secretary-general of the CPC Zhangjiajie Municipal Committee, presided over the conference. Liu Qifeng, deputy director of the Office of Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Hunan Provincial Committee, Guo Xiangli, vice chairperson of the Hunan People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, and representatives of the Austria Embassy in China and some enterprises attended at the sub-venue in Changsha.

Secretary Guo said that, the establishment of friendship city relationship between Zhangjiajie and Mörbisch marks a new start of bilateral communication and cooperation. He hoped the two cities to further enhance communication and win-win cooperation, and optimize collaboration mechanism. He expected to leverage both cities’ advantages, to boost exchange and cooperation in economy and trade, tourism, and culture, and facilitate friendly cooperation and dialogues, exchange visits, and regular information sharing. The two cities will conduct more fruitful collaboration, and create a better future together.

Mayor Binder introduced Mörbisch’s natural scenery and viny region. He mentioned that Mörbisch and Zhangjiajie share a lot in common in culture and tourism. The knot of “friendship city” tie this time indicates a long-term friendly cooperation between the two cities, especially in tourism, economy and trade. He expected the two sides will further promote communication after the epidemic, and achieve mutual benefit and win-win results based on the two’s advantages.  

 
This article is from Hunan Provincial Government www.enghunan.gov.cn.

Translator: Pang Yuehui 

Chinese source: hunan.voc.com.cn