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Capital a regional center of economic vitality

Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province, is a hub for international exchanges in western China.

Many distinguished guests from foreign countries have visited Chengdu in recent years, including British Prime Minister David Cameron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, the United States’ first lady Michelle Obama.

Chengdu has 27 sister cities, 38 friendly partner cities. Fifteen consulates of foreign countries have been operational or approved in the city by July this year. The city government has had a scholarship for overseas students and civil servants from sister cities studying in Chengdu since last year.

Since then, more than 100 students and 28 civil servants from Chengdu’s sister cities have obtained government scholarships to study in the provincial capital.

Chengdu currently has 246 air routes linking 190 cities, including 83 international routes to five continents. Business Travel magazine chose the city in July as the most popular city among investors, followed by the American city of Portland, Montreal and Amsterdam.

Forbes magazine predicted Chengdu will be one of the top 10 fastest-growing cities in the world over the next decade.

Out of the world’s top 500 enterprises, 268 have entered Chengdu, making it the third largest home for multinationals in China, after Beijing and Shanghai.

zhuanti@chinadaily.com.cn