The 4th Sino-British Local Government Seminar was held in Beijing on 29 June.

Hosted by the Chinese People's Association for friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), China International Friendship Cities Association (CIFCA), China-EU Association (CEUA) and Local Government International Bureau (CIFCA) of the UK, the 4th Sino-British Local Government Seminar was held in Beijing on 29 June.

He Luli, Vice-chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China attended the Seminar and delivered a speech. Chen Haosu, President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries made a keynote speech. Ken Bodfish, Chairman of the Local Government International Bureau of the UK, Zhao Jun, Director-General of the Department of European Affairs, Ministry of Foreign affairs, and Barbara Woodward, Political Counsellor of the British Embassy in China delivered speeches respectively at the seminar.

Around 80 representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Development Research Center of the State Council, provincial and municipal governments in China and Local Government International Bureau of the UK, the British Embassy to China, the British Chamber of Commerce in China, Napier University Edinburgh of UK attended the Seminar.

Ken Bodfish, Chairman of the Local Government International Bureau of the UK, makes a speech.

Rationally held in Britain and China three times in the past, the Seminar has drawn wide attention and positive comments from both the Chinese and British governments, facilitation extensive exchanges and cooperation between the local and regional authorities at all levels.

This Seminar has two themes: The first one is Experience and Prospect of City Twinning between China and the UK. Since 1983, China and Britain have established 31 pairs of twinning links at municipal and regional levels, which serve as a channel in promoting understanding, friendship and communication as well as cooperation between our two countries. The Seminar aims to review the current Sino-British city twinning relationship, drawing lessons from the past and exploring new development patterns for the future twinning activities.

The second proposed theme is Urban and Rural Revitalization. The Chinese government makes it an important policy to boost up the restructuring and development of the old industrial base of China. As the world's first industrialized country, Britain has rich experience in managing and reviving its old industrial base and advancing the structural reform. The Seminar aims at facilitating dialogue and exchange in this field between local governments of China and the UK, encouraging participation of the British local government and industrial and commercial sectors in China's urban reform and revitalization.