Kunming: Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Deputy Minister, Dr Namane Dickson Masemola, will attend and participate in engagements at the China International Friendship Cities Conference to be held in Kunming from 18 – 19 November 2024. This conference will be co-hosted by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and the government of Yunnan Province.

According to South African Government News Agency, the conference theme, ‘Common Prosperity, Shared Future’, aligns with the goals of the Ministry of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, and will allow the department to contribute valuable insights from the South African experience. The department highlighted the significance of the conference as a crucial platform providing a unique opportunity for knowledge sharing and collaboration amongst friendship cities and local governments, both within China and internationally.

The aims of the association are to enhance people’s friendship, furthe
r international cooperation, safeguard world peace, and promote common development. The two-day conference will comprise parallel sessions discussing topics such as Technology Innovation for Building Smart Cities, Urban Green Development for Public Wellbeing, Preserving Urban History and Culture, and Interconnected Transportation for building a shared Urban Future.