On December 12, the 8th China South Asia Friendship Organizations’ Forum was held in Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province. Representatives of twelve friendship organizations from six South Asian countries of Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Maldives, as well as representatives of foreign affairs offices and people’s associations for friendship with foreign countries from 19 provinces (municipalities, autonomous regions) of China gathered together for candid, friendly, and in-depth exchanges under the theme of Good Neighbourliness for a Shared Future. Fan Huafeng, Deputy Director-General of the Ningxia Foreign Affairs Office, attended the forum.

Fan Huafeng delivered a speech at the sub-forum on Writing a New Chapter of China-South Asia Friendship City Cooperation, introducing the progress Ningxia has made in establishing international friendship city relations with localities in South Asian countries. He pointed out that in the new era, guided by high-level visits, based on practical exchanges, and relying on people-to-people connectivity, Ningxia has effectively enhanced mutual understanding and trust with local governments of South Asian countries, continuously consolidated and deepened the international friendship city relations, and vigorously expanded practical cooperation in areas such as trade, education, and agriculture. He highlighted the example of Ningxia and Punjab Province of Pakistan, who have witnessed deepened friendship and practical cooperation through joint cultural and tourism exchanges and by combating major natural disasters hand in hand. He also presented the unique natural landscapes, development strengths, local specialties, and opening-up potential of Ningxia to the attendees of the forum. He expressed the hope to further bolster interaction and exchanges with friendship organizations in South Asia, so as to jointly promote international friendship city relations, carry out exchanges and cooperation in various fields, and promote mutual understanding and people-to-people connectivity.

The China South Asia Friendship Organizations’ Forum was initiated by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and various friendship organizations in South Asia in 2009. It is committed to building consensus among the people, laying a solid popular foundation, and strengthening people-to-people bonds to promote the development of China-South Asia relations. The forum is held every two years alternately in China and South Asian countries and has become an important platform for people-to-people exchanges between China and South Asian countries. In recent years, Ningxia has deeply integrated into the Belt and Road Initiative, actively engaging in friendly exchanges with localities and friendship organizations in South Asian countries, and effectively expanding cooperation in areas such as trade, agriculture, and international friendship city relations.