Lozère strengthens its links with the province of Guizhou, in China

Le jumelage entre la région de Libo et l'Entente Causses et Cévennes a été officialisé. DR – DR

Le département de la Lozère et la province chinoise du Guizhou sont jumelés depuis 2001.

Depuis un jumelage officialisé en 2001, le département de la Lozère entretient des relations privilégiées avec la province chinoise du Guizhou.

In this context, last spring, the province's director of foreign affairs, Tao Pingsheng, invited the Department to attend a meeting dedicated to international twinning in Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou. The departmental assembly, to strengthen its friendly relations with the twin province, which had been somewhat dormant due to the health crisis, chose to delegate Régine Bourgade, accompanied by Isabelle Darnas, director of educational and cultural development, to respond to this invitation.

A new twinning

The two representatives from Lozère therefore left in September to take part in these meetings dedicated to twinning and the Friendship Festival. At the same time, an “international fair of alcoholic beverages” was organized. Lozère was able to present some products there, on a stand shared with the other twin cities or regions of Guizhou.

“Whether we are a small department like ours or a large country like Belarus, Korea or Thailand, we were all welcomed in the same way, without difference, comments Régine Bourgade, vice-president of the Sports, culture, heritage and community life commission. The welcome from our Chinese friends remains very warm. And they are constantly trying to please us."

Several protocol events were organized during this trip: the inauguration of the international fair; a reception at the sports administration, with exchanges of gifts to thank Lozère for the invitation to Marvejols-Mende, in July; a signature between the region of Libo, a very small town bordering Zhangjiang, located in a region where nature is particularly flourishing, and the Entente Causses et Cévennes. On this occasion, Régine Bourgade handed over the two originals of the twinning agreement signed by the Entente and which China initialed on its side on September 12.

Sports exchanges

"We have worked to relaunch exchanges with the University of Guyang, continues Régine Bourgade. The sports department also said it was very interested in exchanges. If the Marvejols-Mende continues, Chinese athletes could come and participate again and they are also ready to welcome Lozère runners to their competitions. They would also like us to be able to send a team of young footballers in 2025."

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