Time of establishment of friendly relations: April 2014

Overview:

The canton of Zurich is situated in northern Switzerland and is the country's most populous and economically developed region. The official language is German. Its capital city, Zurich, is Switzerland's largest city and national economic center.

The canton of Zurich is a key economic hub and the center of the country's industry and finance, hosting approximately 70,000 companies across various sectors. Zurich city ranks among the world's leading financial centers, coming in second only to London for gold trading, with 70 percent of Western Europe's securities transactions conducted in the city.

Prominent financial institutions, including UBS, Credit Suisse, and Zurich Financial Services, have their headquarters in Zurich city, which boasts over 120 banks—more than half of which are foreign—earning it the title of "Millionaire City of Europe".

In addition to its financial prowess, the canton is home to world-class research institutions, universities, and international research organizations, including ETH Zurich, which has produced 21 Nobel Prize winners. Key areas of expertise in the canton include precision machinery, environmental protection and technology, trade, life sciences, and urban and regional development planning.

Relations with Guangdong:

Since establishing friendly relations, Guangdong province and the canton of Zurich have actively engaged in practical cooperation in areas such as finance, vocational training, and environmental protection. In 2018, during a visit to Switzerland by Ma Xingrui, the then-governor of Guangdong province, both parties co-hosted the inaugural Zurich-Guangdong Finance Roundtable. By 2021, four roundtable meetings had been held between the two regions. In 2020, both sides signed the Action Plan 2020-2022 to deepen collaboration.

Other friendship provinces & cities:

Shenzhen–Canton of Bern.