On November 4, the 23rd China-Japan-ROK International Friendship Cities Exchange Conference (the Conference) was held both online and offline in Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, attracting more than 500 representatives from local governments and relevant organizations of the three countries. Under the theme of “Building a Closer East Asian Community with a Shared Future through Win-Win Cooperation and Joint Development”, the Conference covered three topics, namely “Medical Cooperation and Elderly Care”, “Energy Conservation and Green and Low-Carbon Growth” and “Digital Economy and Smart City”. Bai Yuzhen, Director-General of Ningxia Foreign Affairs Office, attended the Conference as a guest speaker via video link and delivered a speech on the topic of “Energy Conservation and Green and Low-Carbon Growth”.

In recent years, Ningxia has created a green miracle by fighting against desertification in the Baijitan National Nature Reserve and delivered fruitful results in promoting ecological conservation and high-quality development in the Yellow River Basin. Citing these examples, Bai Yuzhen briefed the attendees on Ningxia’s significant achievements and successful practices in advancing ecological conservation and green transformation. Bai Yuzhen noted that the CPC Ningxia Committee and the People’s Government of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region have thoroughly implemented Xi Jinping Thinking on Ecological Conservation since the 18th CPC National Congress, shouldering the great mission of building the Pilot Zone for Ecological Conservation and High-Quality Development in the Yellow River Basin. Prioritizing ecological conservation and green development in its pursuit of modernization, Ningxia has made vigorous efforts in building a stronger ecological security barrier in northwest China and promoting ecological restoration as well as environmental governance.

The China-Japan-ROK International Friendship Cities Exchange Conference has been hosted annually in the three countries in turn by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the Governors Association of the Republic of Korea, and the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations in Japan since 1999. Serving as a platform for sub-national exchanges, the Conference plays an important role in facilitating discussions on matters of common concern and promoting practical cooperation among the local governments of the three countries.

Representatives from Ningxia Foreign Affairs Office, Yinchuan Foreign Affairs Office and Shizuishan Foreign Affairs Office attended the Conference online.