At the request of the Federation of Sri Lankan Local Government Authorities (FSLGA), member of UCLG ASPAC, the Guangzhou delegation led by Mr. Pan An, Deputy Secretary General of Guangzhou Municipal Government, paid an official visit to Sri Lanka from April 4 to 6. 

On April 5, the Guangzhou delegation visited the headquarters of FSLGA and communicated with National Coordinator/CEO Hemanthi Goonasekera on personnel training and exchange programs. On behalf of the Guangzhou Institute for Urban Innovation (GIUI), the delegation exchanged a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with FSLGA. Both parties consider the establishment of strategic partnership as a very good beginning to strengthen communication and cooperation, further bilateral relationships in various aspects, jointly promote the sustainable development of the Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation (Guangzhou Award), and encourage urban innovation and harmonious development worldwide. In addition, Ms. Hemanthi Goonasekera expressed her interest to participate in the Workshop for Thought Leaders: Learning from Urban Innovation, which is about to be held in Guangzhou at the end of 2015.