The 26th China-Japan-ROK Friendship Cities Exchange Conference opened in Yancheng, Jiangsu Province.

Under the theme of "Local Cooperation for Shared Prosperity, Openness and Inclusiveness for Development," the event brought together representatives from local governments, business organizations, and various sectors across the three countries to explore new prospects for cooperation.

Key areas of focus included economic and trade collaboration, green development, and ecological civilization. Participants reached a broad consensus on deepening local cooperation, promoting regional prosperity, and addressing shared challenges.

During the event, activities such as the Mayors’ Roundtable Meeting and the City Exchange Plaza were held. A number of important documents were signed, including letters of intent for establishing sister-city relationships, memoranda of understanding on joint working mechanisms among friendship cities, and tourism cooperation agreements.

Yancheng shares close geographical and cultural ties with Japan and Korea across the sea, with a long history of friendly exchanges.

As a key node city linking Northeast Asia under the Belt and Road Initiative, a core city in the Yangtze River Delta region, and a coastal gateway for the Huaihe Ecological Economic Belt, Yancheng enjoys exceptional ecological advantages as home to the Migratory Bird Sanctuaries along the Coast of the Yellow Sea-Bohai Gulf of China(Phase I)— a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site. Leveraging national platforms such as the China-South Korea (Yancheng) Industrial Park, Yancheng has attracted substantial investment from Japan and Korea. This ongoing enhancement of industrial clusters and dynamic open economies has positioned Yancheng as a key gateway for Jiangsu Province in its economic and trade cooperation with Japan and South Korea.