Haidian District is seeing increasingly dynamic international engagement and an ever-expanding global circle of partners, with its footprint of friendship extending worldwide. To date, Haidian has established sister-city or friendly exchange relations with 19 cities in 14 countries, forming an international exchange network that spans Asia, Europe, North America and South America. Among these are three official sister cities and 16 friendly exchange cities, distributed across Asia (3), Europe (11), North America (3) and South America (2).
• Official Sister Cities (Districts)
1.Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea (1995)
2.Olympia, Greece (2008)
3.Savonlinna, Finland (2021)
• Friendly Exchange Cities (Districts)
These include Lansing (Michigan, United States), the 16th District of Budapest (Hungary), and Nerima-ku (Tokyo, Japan), among others, with cooperation expanding across a growing range of fields.
This cross-border friendship is embodied in years of sustained, substantive and heartfelt exchanges and cooperation. By establishing diverse dialogue mechanisms, Haidian has engaged in a wide variety of exchange activities with its international sister cities, spanning areas such as cultural visits, youth exchanges, civil servant training, educational cooperation, healthcare, and arts and culture.
A Snapshot of Key Sister-City Exchanges
Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea: Through multiple rounds of civil servant exchange programs, the two sides have shared insights into urban governance. Youth cultural exchange and homestay activities have allowed young people from both countries to experience each other's daily lives and build lasting friendships.
Olympia, Greece (Peloponnese Region): Since the establishment of sister-city relations, Haidian has been invited on multiple occasions as a representative international sister city to attend the Olympic flame-lighting ceremonies in Olympia. The city commissioned renowned Greek sculptor Pavlos to create a bronze statue of the Goddess of Victory as a gift to Haidian, which serves as a lasting symbol of the friendship between the two sides.
Savonlinna, Finland: Focused on cutting‑edge developments in education and healthcare, the two sides have jointly established a Sino-Finnish education research community, conducted "cloud training" for education experts, and successfully hosted the Sino-Finnish Summit on Breast Disease Prevention and Treatment. These efforts have fostered international collaboration in specialized fields.
Lansing, Michigan, United States: With education as a key link, the two sides have organized the Haidian-Lansing Education Forum and youth exchange activities, building a bridge of understanding and communication between the younger generations in China and the United States.
Looking Ahead
From Asia to Europe and the Americas, from neighbours to countries far beyond, Haidian's global network of sister cities continues to grow. Looking ahead, Haidian will uphold the principles of openness, inclusiveness and mutual benefit. Building on established dialogue platforms and existing cooperation outcomes, it will further deepen collaboration with sister cities in areas such as scientific and technological innovation, culture and education, and urban governance, making its global circle of friends ever more vibrant.
