The Milan Symphony Orchestra performs a concert at the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall.

On Dec 31 – marking the end of the old year – the cities of Guangzhou and Milan celebrated the 12th anniversary of their sister city relationship with a special event in the Chinese city, which is the capital of South China's Guangdong province. 

On New Year's Eve, the Milan Symphony Orchestra performed a New Year's concert at the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, welcoming the arrival of 2025 with the citizens of Guangzhou.

In 2025, the 55th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Italy is being celebrated. Founded in 1952, the Milan Symphony Orchestra – renowned for its enduring legacy in the international music realm – journeyed to Guangzhou with a commitment to fostering cultural exchanges.

Showcasing its exceptional musical prowess and distinctive artistic pizzazz, the orchestra presented a triumphant musical extravaganza as the new year drew near.

Back on July 25, 2012, Guangzhou and Milan forged a bond as international friendly cities for cooperation and exchanges.

In recent years, the two have fostered fruitful collaboration in diverse fields including high-level visits and urban governance, as well as in the food, automotive and fashion sectors.