Sister city since: April 7, 2016

Overview

Located in south-central Chile, Concepcion is the seat of the Concepcion Province and capital of the Bío Bío Region. As the second largest city in Chile, Concepcion is at the heart of the Greater Concepcion metropolitan area and serves as its political, commercial, financial and educational center. The city covers an area of about 222 square kilometers. With a population of about 303,000, it is the most populous city in southern Chile. The Bío Bío River flows through this city. To its northwest lies the Port of Talcahuano, which serves as a huge natural harbor linking well to other cities.

Relations with Wuhan

In October 2014, Mr. Yu Jianhai, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of Wuhan Municipal People’s Congress, led a delegation to Concepcion, and signed a letter of intent with Mr. Álvaro Ortiz, Mayor of Concepcion on the establishment of friendly exchange city relations.

In July 2015, Director of Wuhan New Port Administration Committee, led a delegation to Concepcion. During the visit, the delegation met with Mayor Mayor Álvaro Ortiz, head of the city planning department, and officials from the economic and agricultural departments, and had in-depth discussions on cooperation in economy, trade and agriculture.

In April 2016, a delegation from Wuhan Municipal People’s Government visited Concepcion and was warmly welcomed by Mayor Álvaro Ortiz and senior leaders of the council of the Bío Bío region. The two cities officially signed an agreement on establishing sister city relations, making Concepcion Wuhan’s first sister city in South America.

In July 2016, Mayor Álvaro Ortiz planned to lead a six-member swimming team to Wuhan to participate in the 43rd Wuhan International Yangtze River Crossing Festival. The trip was cancelled as the Yangtze River Crossing Festival was called off.

In March 2017, then Executive Vice Mayor Mr. Long Zhengcai led a delegation to Concepcion. Mayor Álvaro Ortiz met with the delegation and the two sides reached consensus on strengthening sister city relations and deepening partnership in economy, trade, education, culture and sports.

In June 2017, Concepcion Municipal Government sent a delegation to participate in the 2017 Wuhan International Friendship Cities Youth Art Summer Camp. The summer camp was hosted by Wuhan Municipal People’s Government and organized by Wuhan Foreign Affairs Office and Jianghan University.

In July 2017, Concepcion sent a delegation to Wuhan to participate in the 44th Wuhan International Yangtze River Crossing Festival.

In September 2017, Mayor Álvaro Ortiz led a delegation to Wuhan to participate in the Chile Week event.

In July 2019, at the invitation of Wuhan, Mayor Álvaro Ortiz recorded a video to cheer on Wuhan for hosting the 7th Military World Games.

In March 2020, Wuhan shared with Concepcion theHandbook of Covid-19 Prevention and Treatmentand the website link ofThe Knowledge Center for China’s Experiences in Response to Covid-19.

In June 2020, Wuhan and Concepcion jointly held the Wuhan China-Concepcion Chile Anti-Pandemic Experience Exchange Video Conference, during which Mayor of Concepcion thanked Wuhan for organizing the high-level expert meeting.

In December 2020, then Mayor Zhou Xianwang sent a New Year’s letter to Mayor of Concepcion, expressing best wishes and also expectations for future cooperation.

In October 2021, at the invitation of Wuhan, a band from Concepcion recorded a singing performance video and participated in the online performance of the 2021 Qintai Music Festival. Mayor of Concepcion delivered a speech at the end of the video, extending sincere greetings to Wuhan.