East China's Shandong province has expanded its international sister-city network to 93 pairs of sister provinces and states and 681 pairs of sister cities in 109 countries. In May 2026, Shandong added new partners with Greece's Ionian Islands, Belarus' Minsk Region, Togo's Maritime Region, and Uzbekistan's Jizzakh Region.

The sister-city relationships have delivered tangible economic results. A 1.31 billion euro ($1.5 billion) expressway project in Serbia was secured, connecting Shandong with Central and Eastern Europe. The China–Greece Smart Green Agriculture Joint Laboratory was established at Shandong Agricultural University, focusing on sustainable agriculture. Heze's peony products are now exported to over 30 countries and regions worldwide, and its peony paintings have been featured at major international events.

Shandong's Heze brings its peony culture to the world stage. [Photo/Dazhong News]

Cultural exchanges have deepened as well. In 2025, Shandong's International Friendship Cities Cooperation and Exchange Week attracted over 900 guests from 47 countries. Sister-city gardens in Jinan, including the Novi Sad Friendship Garden and a 600-square-meter Rennes Friendship Garden, have become new landmarks celebrating decades of friendship. Heze has promoted its intangible cultural heritage in Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Brazil, Spain, France and Australia, while setting up overseas chapters of the World Peony Conference in the Netherlands, Japan, South Korea, and Kyrgyzstan. Jining has established "Nishan book house" in five sister cities, including Japan's Ashikaga, South Korea's Nonsan, and France's Fronsac. It has also donated large Confucius stone sculptures to Gold Coast in Australia and Osasco in Brazil, bringing Confucian culture to the world stage. 

Jining establishes "Nishan book houses" in five sister cities, promoting the spread of Confucian culture. [Photo/Dazhong News]

By expanding exchanges and creating new opportunities for cooperation, Shandong continues to strengthen its global sister-city network. As the Chinese chair province of the China–CEEC Association of Provincial Governors, it is using local cooperation to deepen its international engagement.