Tianjin deserves to be seen by more people around the world, said Huguette Bello, president of the Regional Council of Reunion, France, during her first visit to the Chinese city on Oct 12.

Speaking on the sidelines of the 2026 Legislators Forum for Friendly Exchange, Bello praised Tianjin's world-class port and strong innovation capacity, describing its transformation over the years as remarkable.

During her visit, she took a night cruise along the Haihe River and visited robotics companies, gaining firsthand insights into the city's urban charm and advances in intelligent manufacturing and new energy vehicles.

Tianjin and Reunion established sister-city relations in 2014. During Bello's visit, the two sides signed a memorandum to deepen friendly cooperation and open new opportunities in trade, education, science and technology, and healthcare.

Reunion, strategically located along Indian Ocean shipping routes, hopes to draw on Tianjin's experience in smart city development and the intelligent, green operation of ports. Bello also expressed interest in expanding exchanges through Luban Workshops, a vocational education initiative, and promoting joint research in smart medicine and medicinal plants.

Researchers in Reunion are studying native plants for potential cancer-treatment applications, creating opportunities to collaborate with Tianjin's traditional Chinese medicine and medical research institutions.

Bello said she hoped closer exchanges would benefit people in both places and contribute to global health, adding that geographical distance would not stand in the way of a lasting friendship between Tianjin and Reunion.