Xiamen, Izmir establish sister city ties

Tourists visit the ancient city of Ephesus in the Aegean province of İzmir in Turkey, on Sept 13, 2016. The ancient city of Ephesus is one of the biggest and best-preserved Roman cities in the world and was listed as UNESCO World Heritage in 2015. [Photo by He Canling/Xinhua]

Xiamen, East China's Fujian province established sister city ties with the Turkish city of Izmir on Jan 18, bringing the total number of Xiamen's international sister cities to 20, according to the Xiamen foreign and overseas Chinese affairs office.

Located near the Aegean, Izmir is the third largest city in Turkey which is also involved in China's Belt and Road Initiative. Izmir is a coastal city like Xiamen with beautiful scenery and port advantages. The city holds the third largest international stone fair and is home to Turkey's first privately run free trade zone, Aegean Free Zone.

The newly established ties will promote further cooperation between Xiamen and Izmir in stone business and port development, which is part of the measures Xiamen has taken to implement the Belt and Road Initiative.

Izmir is also abundant in renewable energy resources, and agricultural products such as olive, cotton, turkey fig and raisins, providing great potential for cooperation with Xiamen in more sectors.