Guangzhou, LA to expand exchanges

Chen Zhiying, executive deputy mayor of Guangzhou, Guangdong province, communicates with Nina Hachigian, deputy mayor of Los Angeles, California, US, in a video conference on April 24, 2020. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Los Angeles, California, the United States and Guangzhou in Guangdong province, will further expand exchanges and cooperation in fighting COVID-19 in the weeks to come.

In a video conference with Chen Zhiying, executive deputy mayor of Guangzhou, on Friday morning, Nina Hachigian, deputy mayor of Los Angeles, said LA and Guangzhou enjoy very friendly and close relations and the two cities should further enhance their exchanges and cooperation against the pandemic.

Hachigian praised Guangzhou's experience in preventing and controlling COVID-19.

Los Angeles, California, US and Guangzhou in Guangdong province expand exchanges and cooperation related to fighting COVID-19 in a video conference, on April 24, 2020. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Hachigian had served as US ambassador to ASEAN — the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Chen expressed his thanks to Los Angeles for the city's great help to Guangzhou in the fight against COVID-19 in the early stages.

"And Guangzhou would like to share its successful experience in fighting the pandemic with LA and expects Los Angeles to soon restore normal social and economic order," Chen said.

In addition to the fight against COVID-19, Chen and Hachigian discussed coronavirus detection, restoration of production, resumption of schoos and other issues.

Liu Baochun, director of Guangzhou's foreign affairs office, and Ouyang Ziwen, deputy director of the Guangzhou health commission, accompanied Chen to the video conference.