Strengthening City-to-City Cooperation: Kunming Delegation Visits Bristol
The Bristol & West of England China Bureau was pleased to host a senior delegation from the Kunming Municipal People’s Government on 3 December at Bristol City Hall. The delegation was led by Mr. Wang Zhong, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Kunming Municipal People’s Congress, alongside officials from Kunming’s Publicity Department, Culture & Tourism Bureau, and Environmental Protection Committee.
They were warmly welcomed by Cllr Dyer, Leader of Bristol City Council, together with representatives from the Council’s sustainability team, Visit West, and regional partners.
Shared Commitment to Net Zero by 2030
A core focus of the exchange was the shared priority of achieving net zero by 2030. Both Bristol and Kunming are among the small number of global cities working toward this ambitious target
Discussions covered:
Low-carbon urban development
Ecological protection and biodiversity
Climate strategy and green innovation
Opportunities for technical exchange between city teams
Wellbeing Tourism as a Key Opportunity
The meeting also examined the potential for wellbeing tourism, an area in which both cities have unique strengths.
Dan Mills, Head of Commercial & Industry Engagement at Visit West, provided an insightful overview of Bristol’s tourism sector and areas for future collaboration, helping to open a constructive discussion with the Kunming delegation.
Celebrating Diversity and Cultural Exchange
Both Bristol and Kunming are proudly diverse and inclusive cities, enriched by multicultural communities and strong traditions of international cooperation. The visit reaffirmed the importance of cultural exchange, people-to-people links, and shared values in building long-term partnerships.
Looking Ahead
Yang Ding, Director of the Bristol & West of England China Bureau, chaired the meeting and emphasised the importance of ongoing collaboration:
“This visit demonstrated the many areas in which Bristol and Kunming share common goals—from climate ambition and wellbeing tourism to our shared values of diversity and international openness. We look forward to continuing this dialogue and developing practical cooperation in the months ahead.”
The Bureau will continue working closely with Bristol City Council, Kunming Municipal Government, and regional partners to shape next steps in sustainability, tourism collaboration, cultural exchange, and city-to-city engagement.