An online opening ceremony for the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the friendship between North China's Shanxi province and Canelones Department in Uruguay and Uruguay Week is held on Nov 17. [Photo/shanxi.gov.cn]

An online opening ceremony for the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the friendship between North China's Shanxi province and Canelones in Uruguay and Uruguay Week was held on Nov 17.

Jiang Jiang, vice-president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Wang Gang, Chinese Ambassador to Uruguay, and Yamandú Orsi, Governor of Canelones, offered their congratulation via video.

Uruguay's Ambassador to China Fernando Lugris and Wu Shaozhong, director of the Foreign Affairs Office of Shanxi Provincial Government, attended the opening ceremony online and delivered speeches.

During the event, Wu gave Lugris the signed text of the Memorandum of Understanding on Deepening Friendly Relations on the 30th Anniversary of the Friendship between Shanxi Province in the People's Republic of China and Canelones Department in Oriental Republic of Uruguay.

The year of 2022 marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of friendly relations between Shanxi and Canelones.

As the first pair of international sister provinces after the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Uruguay, Shanxi and Canelones have enjoyed continuous exchange in recent years. The two sides will take the event as an opportunity to further promote cooperation on economy and trade, energy, education, sports, culture and tourism.

During Uruguay Week in Shanxi, a series of events will be held in Shanxi's provincial capital of Taiyuan, such as a Uruguayan contemporary art exhibition, a Uruguayan film exhibition and the Shanxi Youth Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition entitled "Uruguay in My Eyes".