In 2024, a total of 19 heads of state led delegations to Zhejiang. They discussed future cooperation plans with provincial leaders of Zhejiang, attended major international forums (trade fairs) to promote international trade cooperation and economic exchanges, visited companies in the province, strolled through Zhejiang’s new rural areas and explored the archaeological ruins of Liangzhu....

Showcase the Governance of China through Zhejiang

2024 marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Italy, as well as the 700th anniversary of the death of Italian explorer Marco Polo. In November 2024, Italian President Sergio Mattarella visited Zhejiang. It was his second trip to China since February 2017 and first trip to this province. He said that Italy and China are both ancient civilizations with broad prospects for cooperation across various sectors, and that Zhejiang province, one of the most dynamic provinces in China, plays an important role in enhancing Italy-China relations.

Following his first visit to Zhejiang in June 2023, Mongolian Prime Minister Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene led another delegation to the province in November 2024. He toured key infrastructure projects and learned about Zhejiang’s achievements and experience in the digital economy. He stated that Mongolia will continue to promote the pragmatic cooperation across all sectors with Zhejiang.

In September 2024, South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayardit visited Zhejiang after attending the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing. His visit to Zhejiang left him deeply impressed by the booming vitality of China’s modernization endeavors and he expressed strong interest in strengthening exchanges with the province in all areas.

In 2024, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, accompanied by his wife, revisited Zhejiang after 30 years, to witness firsthand the remarkable achievements of Chinese modernization. He expressed hopes that this visit will be an opportunity to deepen cooperation with Zhejiang in marine economy, trade and investment, culture and tourism, and other fields, aiming to continuously enhance the well-being of people in both regions and advance the friendly relations between Fiji and China.

High-standard Opening-up Yields Fruitful Results

Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone attended and addressed the China (Zhejiang)—Laos Economic and Trade Exchange Conference in Hangzhou, which was attended by over 170 government and enterprise representatives from Zhejiang and Laos. More than 40 Zhejiang businesses spanning agriculture, manufacturing, trade and investment, cross-border commerce, green energy, minerals, and tourism had face-to-face communications with about 60 Lao enterprises on project investment, market expansion, and technologies.

In 2024, marking the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Hungary, Oláh Lajos, Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly and Vice Chairman of the Hungary-China Friendship Group of Parliamentarians was invited to visit Zhejiang,. He attended and addressed the launching ceremony of the 3rd Global Digital Trade Expo. The event not only inaugurated a new journey for global digital trade but also built new bridges for Zhejiang-Hungary cooperation.

On November 20, 2024, President Xi Jinping extended congratulations via video to the opening ceremony of the 2024 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit, which resonated strongly with attendees from various sectors. Vice President of Honduras Renato Florentino, Vice President of Zambia Mutale Nalumango, and Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam Le Thanh Long attended and addressed the opening ceremony.

Honduran Vice President Renato Florentino expressed admiration for China’s development in communication and computer technologies, and hoped to strengthen cooperation with China in science and technology and promote mutually beneficial and win-win outcomes between the two countries.

Vice President of Zambia Mutale Nalumango said, “Developing countries responded actively to the initiative of building a community with a shared future in cyberspace. We call on the international community to jointly enhance investment in artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure to ensure that no one is left behind and to create a safe and resilient digital environment for all.”

The visit to Zhejiang was the first visit abroad by Vietnamese Vice Premier Lê Thành Long since he took office. At the conclusion of the visit, he said that he firmly believes China will continue to play an important role in the global economy, particularly in driving digital transformation and green transition.

Open A New Chapter in High-level Economic and Trade Cooperation

Milos Vucevic, Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia, visited Minhua future factory of Minth Group in Zhejiang, and attended the Serbian investment promotion seminar held at the Group’s headquarters, where he delivered a speech and witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Economic Affairs of Serbia and Minth Group.

Xavier Bettel, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Luxembourg, came to Jiaxing, Zhejiang to attend the celebrations for the 20th anniversary of the founding of CEBI China.

After visiting Geely Holding Group, Nelly Muti, Speaker of the National Assembly of Zambia, highly commended Zhejiang’s achievements in intelligent manufacturing and expressed hopes to strengthen cooperation with Zhejiang in the electrification and smart development of the automotive industry.

Teo Chee Hean, Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security of Singapore, led a delegation to visit Zhejiang, during which he visited Hangzhou City Brain, Zhejiang SUPCON Science and Technology Park, Singapore-Hangzhou Science and Technology Park, and Mirxes (Hangzhou) Biotechnology.

High-level Cultural Exchanges Foster Closer Bonds

Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda witnessed the signing of a letter of intent for cooperation between its Ministry of Health and Alibaba DAMO Academy to promote exchanges and cooperation in AI-assisted medical care and digital health. In his speech at Hangzhou Normal University, he praised China’s great achievements in reform and opening up and economic development, as well as its important role in global affairs.

Roosevelt Skerrit, Prime Minister of Dominica, led a delegation to visit Zhejiang and witnessed the signing of the Agreement on International Sister City Relations between Rosso, Dominica and Yiwu. Yiwu and Rosso became the first pair of sister cities between China and Dominica.

During the visit to Zhejiang, Robert Habeck, German Vice-Chancellor and Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, delivered a speech at Zhejiang University, where he interacted with students on climate change and sustainable development.

Santia Bradshaw, Deputy Prime Minister of Barbados, led a delegation to visit Zhejiang. She expressed high expectations for China’s new energy vehicle enterprises to invest in Barbados, and hoped to deepen exchanges and cooperation with Zhejiang Province in disaster emergency management, climate change response, and new energy vehicles.

Félix Ulloa, leader of El Salvador’s New Ideas Party and Vice President-elect, told the local media in Deqing, Zhejiang, “We’ve learned a lot about China’s innovative practices in rural revitalization, community-level governance, and ecological conservation, which have offered important reference for El Salvador’s social and economic development.”