The "World Mayors Dialogue · Nanning" event, themed "Building a China-ASEAN Friendly Home: Urban Openness and Cooperation," was held from January 15 to 18 in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. Leaders from Lang Son City (Lang Son Province) and Mong Cai City (Quang Ninh Province) of Vietnam attended the forum.
The event brought together mayors or their representatives from 12 cities across eight countries, including China, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Indonesia. Nguyen Van Hinh, Secretary of the Lang Son City Party Committee and Chairman of the People's Committee, introduced the Vietnamese cities of Lang Son and Mong Cai at the forum. He highlighted their well-developed infrastructure, which has attracted numerous service and logistics projects from businesses. Notably, the implementation of smart border gates with advanced technology has optimized inspection and monitoring processes at the Guangxi border, improving customs clearance efficiency, reducing commercial fraud, and creating favorable conditions for residents and businesses on both sides.
Secretary Nguyen Van Hinh praised the forum's significance in promoting connectivity, cooperation, and the sharing of governance experiences among cities in the region and beyond. He expressed confidence that strengthening cooperation between Lang Son, Mong Cai, Nanning, and other cities in the ASEAN region would further enhance friendly relations, promote cultural exchanges, and contribute to the development of friendly and cooperative ties among regional countries.
During the forum, city leaders engaged in in-depth discussions on the theme of "Building a China-ASEAN Friendly Home: Urban Openness and Cooperation," sharing ideas and initiatives for urban governance and sustainable development.
At the main event, representatives from participating cities jointly released the "Nanning Initiative." The initiative proposed deepening friendly exchanges between cities to contribute to building a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future; enhancing economic and trade cooperation to ensure development benefits the people of China and ASEAN nations; and fostering cultural and people-to-people exchanges to actively promote peace, prosperity, and friendship in the region.
Additionally, 14 exchange and cooperation projects were signed between China and Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, and Singapore. These projects, with a total investment of over 3.3 billion RMB (452 million USD), cover areas such as sister-city partnerships, trade, education, tourism, logistics, transportation, and environmental protection. They are expected to significantly advance local cooperation, regional connectivity, and the development of diverse communication channels.