Jointly Write a New Chapter on Development of International Friendship Cities——Speech by State Councilor Dai Bingguo at the Opening Ceremony

The 2012 International Friendship Cities Conference is now convening here in Chengdu. Firstly, on behalf of the Chinese Government, I’d like to extend warm congratulations on the convocation of the conference and warm welcome to all the representatives,especially foreign friends coming from afar.China’s international friendship-city activities have been carried on for 39 years. In 1973, Tianjin of China and Kobe of Japan became the first pair of friendship