Under a decision made by the Permanent Committee of the Lianyungang Municipal Assembly of People's Representatives, dated 17 June 2021, the SCO Secretary-General received the title of Honourary Citizen of Lianyungang.
Lianyungang Mayor Fang Wei gave the relevant certificate to the SCO Secretary-General in the presence of permanent representatives of the SCO member countries.
After the presentation ceremony, the Mayor addressed those present and noted that the event had been organised in order to thank Mr Norov for his contribution to expanding transport and logistic and trade and economic ties, to developing international cooperation between Lianyungang and cities in the SCO countries and to the city's efforts to implement the Belt and Road national initiative. According to Fang Wei, the efforts made by the SCO Secretary-General are helping to intensify international exchanges and to promote mutual exchanges under various SCO projects.
In turn, SCO Secretary-General Vladimir Norov, addressing the participants, thanked the residents and administration of Lianyungang for the honour and high trust accorded to him.
He pointed out that Lianyungang had an ancient history and a rich culture, a ramified tourist infrastructure, as well as a reputation of a key Eurasian logistics centre. The city is the nearest and most important port for Central Asian countries that are able to access East Asian markets via Lianyungang.
Mr Norov reaffirmed the readiness of the SCO Secretariat to continue actively assisting Lianyungang in expanding and consolidating diverse ties with the Organisation's countries, so as to promote and further expedite mutually beneficial trade and economic exchanges in the vast SCO region.
As of today, the title Honourary Citizen of Lianyungang has been conferred on 20 persons who have made their feasible contribution to creating the city's industry, expanding the education system, consolidating public well-being and facilitating the city's international cooperation. Lianyungang that has a population of almost five million became one of China's first coastal cities to open up to the outside world. It is also a growing industrial, foreign trade and tourism centre. Lianyungang is the terminus of the New Eurasian Land Bridge and the Northern East-West Freight Corridor.