Riga（Latvia）

Riga（Latvia）

[Overview] Riga is Latvia's capital as well as political, economic, technological, cultural and transportation center. Situated at the junction of western and eastern Europe and that of Russia and Scandinavia, in the heart of the Baltic countries, on the edge of Riga Bay, the city covers an area of 307.17 square kilometers and has a population of 638,000.

[Politics] The Riga City Council performs city management functions of the government. The city council is composed of 60 members, directly elected by secret ballot by citizens for a term of four years. The chairman of the city council also serves as the mayor of the city, and the vice chairman also serves as the deputy mayor. Both are elected by the city council from its members. There are three districts under the jurisdiction of the city. The incumbent mayor, Oļegs Burovs, took office in August 2019 for a four-year term.

[Economy] Riga is the industrial center of Latvia. The city's major industries are shipbuilding, electrical appliances, machinery, vehicles, glass, consumer goods, and food processing. Main exports are textiles, fiberglass, footwear, and fish products.

Riga is the largest commercial and financial center as well as transportation hub on the Baltic Sea coast. The Port of Riga is world-famous. The city also has well-developed railways, highways and shipping industry.

[Culture and Education] Riga is Latvia's education center. There are various institutions of higher education in the city, including academy of sciences, universities, industrial colleges, and academy of music.

[Relations with Beijing] In September 2017, Beijing and Riga officially became sister cities. In April 2004, the two cities signed an economic, social and cultural cooperation agreement in Beijing. In recent years, Beijing and Riga have maintained good official ties and engaged in productive cooperation in the fields of tourism, culture and education.

Tourism and Culture: Riga joined the World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF) when it was established on the initiative of Beijing in 2012 and has since then been in active interactions with Beijing within the WTCF framework. In February 2014, Beijing presented the “Happy Chinese New Year” show in Riga. This was the first time that the event had come to Latvia and it received positive response from local people. In April 2019, Beijing Dance Academy sent a team of dancers to present the classical Chinese dance show “Beauty beyond Words” at the 24th International Baltic Ballet Festival in Riga, which consisted of 13 dance performances, including On the Wings of the Song, Goddess, One-Thousand-Hand Avalokitesvara, and Moonlit River in Spring, showcasing the beauty of Chinese culture with Chinese features and artistic characteristics to local people.

Education: In March 2018, Beijing International Studies University and Riga Technical University signed an exchange agreement for undergraduates studying Latvian language, providing an additional training channel for students learning languages of Central and Eastern Europe. The two universities renewed the undergraduate exchange agreement in March 2019 and signed an undergraduate training agreement in July 2019. In October 2019, Riga sent a delegation to participate in the youth camp activities organized in Beijing. The participants shared the two cities' practices and experience in promoting science, technology, culture, and green development and thus got better understanding of each other.

Landscaping: In October 2012, Beijing Gardening and Greening Bureau sent a delegation to Riga to learn about the city's forest management and planning practices. In May 2014, a delegation of the Housing and Environment Department of the Riga City Council visited Beijing to check the city's landscaping efforts and signed a cooperation agreement with Beijing Gardening and Greening Bureau.

里加市（拉脱维亚）

【概况】里加市是拉脱维亚首都，全国政治、经济、科技、文化和交通中心，位于欧洲西部和东部交叉点、俄罗斯和斯堪的纳维亚半岛汇合处，处于波罗的海国家的中心地带，濒临里加湾，面积307.17平方公里，人口63.8万。

【政治】里加市市议会执行市政府城市管理职能。市议会由60名议员组成，议员由全体市民通过无记名投票方式直接选举产生，每届任期4年。议会主席同时担任市长，副主席同时担任副市长，两者均由市议员从全体议员中选举产生。全市下辖3个区。现任市长马丁什·斯塔克斯于2020年9月就职，任期4年。

【经济】里加市是拉脱维亚的工业中心，主要工业有造船、电器、机械、车辆、玻璃、消费品、食品加工等。出口商品主要有纺织品、玻璃纤维、鞋类、鱼产品等。

里加市是波罗的海沿岸最大的商业、金融中心和最大的运输枢纽，也是世界著名港口。铁路、公路、航运发达。

【文化教育】里加市是全国教育中心，市内设有科学院、大学、工业学院、音乐学院等各类高校。

【两市交往】2017年9月，北京市与里加市正式建立友好城市关系。2004年4月，两市在京签署经济、社会和文化合作协议。近年来，我市与里加市保持着良好的官方往来，旅游、文化、教育等领域合作成果突出。

旅游文化：2012年，里加市首批加入了由我市发起成立的世界旅游城市联合会，并在联合会框架下与我市开展了良好互动。2014年2月，我市在里加市举办了“欢乐春节”演出，这是“欢乐春节”活动首次来到拉脱维亚，受到当地民众的热烈欢迎。2019年4月，北京舞蹈学院派演出团组赴里加市参加了第24届波罗的海国际芭蕾舞节，演出中国古典舞专场《大美不言》，包括《踏歌》《飞天》《千手观音》《春江花月夜》等13个舞蹈节目，使外国观众体会到了备具中国神韵和艺术特质的中国文化之美。

人文教育：2018年3月，北京第二外国语学院与里加理工大学签署了拉脱维亚语本科生交流协议，拓展了我市中东欧非通用语人才创新培养渠道。2019年3月，两校续签了本科生交流协议，并于2019年7月签署了贯培项目（本科阶段）协议。2019年10月，里加市派代表参加了我市举办的友城青年交流营活动，参会者分享了各自城市在科技、文化、绿色发展等方面的做法和经验，增进了相互了解。

园林绿化：2012年10月，市园林绿化局组团赴里加市进行城市森林经营管理和规划等方面的学习交流。2014年5月，里加市政厅住房与环境委员会代表团来京考察园林绿化情况，并与市园林绿化局签订合作协议。

（Source: Foreign Affairs Office of Beijing Municipal Government）