On The Current Step And Measures For Future Development Of International Cooperation Between Qingdao And Local Government In Japan

With the development of globalization, the international arena has become more diversified, then, the local governments and other actors who work outside the state are playing more and more important role. Chinese local governments experienced a diplomatic period of establishing "friendly city" which is based on "international exchange" with foreign local governments and now they are developing the local government relationship to "international cooperation". As a diplomatic form of local governments, the "international cooperation" is more in-depth, participation, pragmatic than the before "international exchange", also it can be more easy to improve the local economic and social development. With the "Local" characteristic, when the national diplomatic activity blocked, the local governments can still maintain a certain degree of international cooperation, which will help and improve the country’s foreign diplomatic policy.Qingdao City, as a coastal open city who is located in the east of China, has very good foundation of "international cooperation" and she really needs it. With the similar geography culture and history, Qingdao has established long time friendly exchanges and economic cooperation with many Japanese local governments. Among them, Qingdao and Japan Shimonoseki city officially concluded as "sister cities." in 1979.This kind of friendly exchanges and cultural exchanges has been the main form of friendship cities exchange even during the hard period of the Sino-Japanese relations. The two cities still maintained a certain exchanges and contacts during the national level face enormous obstacles. Since 1979, which has passed 35 years, Qingdao has established the international exchanges and cooperation with Japanese local cities. In the last 35 years, the social development in Qingdao, the Sino-Japanese economic, social, political and other international environment all have undergone major changes. The general public for a Japanese local cities and the Sino-Japanese relations attitudes, opinions, ideas also have changed a lot. With these changes, the Qingdao government’s ideas and methods for exchanges and cooperation with Japanese local cities has changed from the "international exchange" to "international cooperation", from "bilateral cooperation" to "a multilateral network of international organizations development"At present, Qingdao also concluded the friendly and cooperation relationship with Fukuoka, Kitakyushu City, Kyoto City, and the economic partnership with Kyoto City, Kawasaki City in Japan. Qingdao is also actively participating in various activities to promote East Asian economic exchanges and other institutions. With the international cooperation in various field, it not only promoted the development of Qingdao’s culture, education, administration, municipal and other traditional areas, but also promoted the two-way investment, the local enterprises "going out", environmental protection, promotion of social management, Qingdao’s economic restructuring and sustainable development.In the future, Qingdao City who will successfully achieve in Japan and South Korea FTA negotiations which is the framework of economic cooperation demonstration area and promote the transformation and upgrade of its objectives, she need to improve the management capacity of local governments, the development of international local governments cooperation. Now the Sino-Japanese relations become more complex and sensitive, it is both a challenge and an opportunity for Qingdao to deepen the cooperation with the Japanese local governments. Among the above mentioned, to establish the economic partnership is the main way for Qingdao and Japanese local governments for a time. Qingdao should learn from Japanese city especially for the advanced technology and experience in the field of manufacturing, modem services, low-carbon economy, health industry, etc.