Research On The Management Of Qingdao International Sister Cities

The administration of international friendship-city affairs concerns the external interactions carried out by the city government within the framework of national sovereignty and overall diplomacy,under the central government’s authorization or policy guidance,aimed at contributing to the overall development strategy of the country and the economic and social development of the city.With the ongoing urbanization and cities’ rising level of internationalization in China,the administration of international friendship-city affairs plays an increasingly evident role in the China’s national development strategy and people-to-people exchanges with other countries.Therefore,how to leverage external exchanges at the city level to concurrently serve national development and local development has become an important subject of urban development in China.General Secretary Xi Jinping said that we should vigorously develop China’s international friendship-city network,promote exchanges of local governments in China with their foreign counterparts,and promote the sharing of resources,complementary advantages and win-win cooperation at the commemoration of the 60 th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.These remarks have pointed out the way forward for the administration of international friendship-city affairs.Since the beginning of the reform and opening up,Qingdao has actively advanced the administration of international friendship-city affairs within the framework of the national overall diplomacy.Since 1979 when the city tied knots with the Japanese city of Shimonoseki,Qingdao has forged friendship with cities across the globe.The city’s external contacts have increased dramatically in terms of both quantity and quality;the approach of communication has changed from a passive mode of "invite and receive friends" to an active one of "reach out and visit them".The network of international friendship cities has expanded to Asia,Europe,the Americas and other countries with a shift from general cities gradually to the world-renowned cities,leading to constant improvement in the mix of the friendship cities and the level and substance of interaction.In terms of purpose,the interactions,which were initially for serving overall diplomacy,are selected and planned to serve the national and local economic,social,cultural and other all-round development.In terms of formats,the interactions,which lacked in substance and consistency,have been carried out with exchange of visits on a regular basis.The process of the interactions,which were playing a subservient role,have become multi-dimensional and diversified to drive and lead the opening up of Qingdao.This paper uses the knowledge of public administration to analyze the current situation of the administration of the international friendship-city affairs in Qingdao,puts forward suggestions for improvement,and enriches the research on the administration of the international friendship-city affairs by coastal open cities to a certain extent.The paper encompasses four chapters.The introduction covers the research purpose,domestic and foreign literature review,the research objectives,content,key issues,possible innovation points and shortcomings,research methods.The first chapter introduces the concepts of international friendship city,city diplomacy,establishment of friendship city ties,and honorary title conferment and analyzes the policy,contents and significance of the international friendship cities of our country.The second chapter analyzes the development,current status and problems confronting the administration of Qingdao international friendship-city affairs.The third chapter draws experience at home and abroad,analyzes the new situation,new tasks,new requirements for the administration of Qingdao international friendship-city affairs.The fourth chapter,combined with the actual work of Qingdao foreign affairs,puts forward the suggestions for improvement,which is relevant to exploring new ways and methods for administration of international friendship-city affairs under the new circumstances.