Zaragoza and Nanjing strengthen their trade ties in training and exchange programs

The city of Zaragoza and the Chinese metropolis of Nanjing have signed a Letter of Intent with the aim of strengthening their commercial relations and promoting collaboration in training and exchange programs. This agreement represents a significant step in strengthening ties between both cities, promoting joint development in key areas such as culture, education, technology and tourism.

The signing of the document took place during the official visit of the Mayor of Zaragoza, Natalia Chueca, to China, as part of a tour in which she has visited five cities with the aim of promoting the Aragonese capital as an attractive destination for investment and tourism. In Nanjing, Chueca met with the Mayor of the city, Chen Zhichang, with whom she exchanged ideas on the future of bilateral cooperation.

Nanjing, with a population of 9.5 million, is one of the most dynamic cities in China. Throughout its history, it has been an important political and economic centre, and today it is known for its thriving technology industry. According to Chueca, it is “inspiring to see first-hand the growth strategy of this city, which has resulted in the establishment of more than 3,500 companies from more than 60 different countries and regions of the world .”

The agreement establishes a framework for mutual understanding, based on equality and shared benefit. The main areas of collaboration include education, urban development, science and technology, as well as the exchange of students and professionals. Both cities expressed their willingness to promote prosperity and common development through various joint initiatives.

“It is an honour for Zaragoza to visit Nanjing and see how this city maintains its splendour and its position as a political, economic and technological centre in south-east China,” said Chueca. He also highlighted that the University of Zaragoza already collaborates with academic institutions in Nanjing, a link that is intended to be extended to other strategic sectors.

In her speech, the mayor highlighted Nanjing’s potential in the field of entrepreneurship and technological innovation. “The growth model based on the creation of technological and research centres has been a success,” she stressed. She also mentioned key sectors in which the Chinese city has excelled, such as biomedicine, high-end industry and the manufacture of photoelectric screens.

Zaragoza and Nanjing share a strong entrepreneurial spirit and a determined commitment to innovation. The Aragonese capital has established itself as an important logistics hub, with one of the most important cargo airports in Spain and a maritime terminal that is constantly growing. “In 2024 alone, more than 40 billion euros will be invested in Zaragoza and its metropolitan area,” said the mayor.

Chueca expressed her confidence that this agreement will open up new opportunities for both cities. “I am sure that, as a result of this letter of intent, new avenues of collaboration will open up so that the brilliant history, culture, economy and industry of our two cities continue to grow and contribute to improving the quality of life of our citizens and to the prosperity of our countries, China and Spain,” she concluded.

CHINESE TRADE MISSION WITH HCG, MAJOR TOUR OPERATOR

The Zaragoza City Council Trade Mission has held a meeting with executives of the tour operator HCG Travel Group, part of the ETI Holidays (Huancheng) consortium, a company dedicated to tourism that has more than a thousand employees and offers services to more than 7,000 travel agencies distributed throughout the country.

Following the meeting, the Chinese company has agreed to come to Zaragoza for two days for its next MICE event (a specialised category within the field of corporate event organisation) organised for 2,000 people.

The tourism company has shown interest in the transformation of Zaragoza and its consolidation as a high-value tourist destination due to its history, heritage, art, gastronomy and economic importance in Spain as a whole.

With the aim of promoting Zaragoza as the friendliest city in Spain for Chinese tourism, the mission led by the Mayor of Zaragoza, Natalia Chueca, will also meet with China Youth Travel Services, the largest event and meeting management company in China with branches in ten provinces of the country.

The meeting was also attended by the manager of the Tourism Board, José Francisco García, and the advisor of Turespaña and Director of the Tourism Office at the Spanish Embassy in Beijing, María Llinares.