Opening Ceremony of the 2025 RCEP Local Government and Sister-City Cooperation Forum Held in Huangshan

On June 5th, coinciding with the traditional Grain in Ear solar term, the opening ceremony and keynote address of the 2025 RCEP Local Government and Sister-City Cooperation (Huangshan) Forum took place in Huangshan City. Co-hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and the People’s Government of Anhui Province, and supported by the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) and the China Public Diplomacy Association (CPDA), the forum aims to promote the high-quality implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP). Its goal is to deepen mutual understanding, explore business opportunities, establish sister-city partnerships, and foster collaboration between Anhui Province and local governments from other RCEP member countries. These efforts aim to foster cooperation and achieve mutual prosperity among RCEP member states.

Themed “Regional Cooperation for Joint Advancement”, the forum features a wide range of activities, including the Opening Ceremony and Keynote Address, the Dialogue on RCEP Cooperation in New Energy Vehicles (NEVs) and Advanced Photovoltaic Supply Chains, the RCEP–Yangtze River Delta Young Business Leaders Dialogue, the Forum on Specialty Agriculture and Cross-Border E-Commerce, the RCEP Overseas Chinese Entrepreneurs Roundtable, the “Huangshan Night” Networking Reception for RCEP Local Governments and Sister Cities, as well as product exhibitions and cultural-commercial field visits.

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is the world’s largest free trade agreement in terms of population, economic scale, and growth potential. As a key international platform under the RCEP framework, the Local Government and Sister-City Cooperation (Huangshan) Forum was designated a national-level permanent forum in May 2024. Since its inaugural session in 2023, the forum has played a vital role in deepening local government exchanges, expanding economic ties, and enhancing cultural engagement between Anhui Province and other RCEP member states.

Liang Yanshun, Secretary of the CPC Anhui Provincial Committee and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Anhui Provincial People's Congress

delivered a speech

Wang Qingxian, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Anhui Provincial Committee and Governor of Anhui Province

delivered a speech

Signing ceremony

Representatives from China, Cambodia, and other countries joined to establish the RCEP Member States World Heritage Sites Cooperation Alliance

Event venue

Bhokin Bhalakula, Former President of the Thai Parliament and President of the Thailand–China Culture and Economy Association

delivered a speech