Kanat Jumagaziev, governor of Chuy region in Kyrgyzstan, highlighted the deepening partnership with East China's Shandong province under the Belt and Road Initiative during his first official visit to Shandong for the 2025 Shandong International Friendship Cities Cooperation and Exchange Week on May 26.

Shandong and Chuy established friendly relations in September 2023. "The partnership is a vivid example of how the Belt and Road Initiative is being implemented at the regional level," Jumagaziev said. The two sides have established cooperation project platforms in the fields of industry, agriculture, education, and culture.

He highlighted the strong potential for further cooperation between the two sides. A number of Shandong enterprises have already launched operations in Chuy through joint ventures with local firms and has made significant success. 

He stated that the visit to Shandong marks an important milestone in the history of bilateral relations. More cooperation can be explored in industry, agricultural technology, green energy, and people to people exchange, to further enrich the bilateral relationship.

The Shandong International Friendship Cities Cooperation and Exchange Week held from May 26 to 30 welcomed foreign guests from 47 counties to further deepen cooperation with friendly cities. 

To date, Shandong has established sister city and friendly cooperation relationships with 718 cities or regions in 107 countries.