Celebrations have been held to mark Hangzhou International Day, an annual event to raise the city's global profile. The day fell on September 5th this year, with cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative as one of the key focuses. CGTN spoke with international guests attending the celebrations. They shared their perspectives on what people-to-people exchanges mean for global solidarity. 

SHAHAFEEZ SHAHARIS Consul General, Consulate General of Malaysia in Shanghai "International relations is usually led by country and country, but now more and more city to city exchanges as well as a national municipalities cooperation is leading international relations. I think this is a healthy development, in terms of international relations and of course Malaysia and China enjoys a comprehensive strategic partnership for many, many years and I think it is a great platform that we should utilize."

LUCIANO TANTO CLEMENT Consul General, Consulate General of the Argentine Republic in Shanghai "In the case of Argentina, more and more delegations are coming to Hangzhou because of this, innovation and technology. I guess that it is exactly using the cooperation of the companies that the cities are linked like Argentina, mainly the most advanced cities about innovation like Buenos Aires. And many of those cities are coming to Hangzhou."