On July 14, 2026, the 56th Republic Festival of Folk Songs and Dances "Ilinden Days" opened in Bitola, North Macedonia, featuring a concert by the Ningbo Symphony Orchestra. 

H.E. Mme. Ambassador Jiang Xiaoyan noted that Bitola and Ningbo have enjoyed a sister-city relationship for over a decade, marked by increasingly vibrant cultural and people-to-people exchanges. The Bitola International Graphic Triennial was successfully held in Ningbo under a "cross-border joint exhibition" format. This year alone, dozens of representatives from various sectors in Bitola have visited China for study tours, and dozens of students from University "St. Kliment Ohridski"-Bitola have been awarded the Chinese Ambassador Scholarship. These sister-city interactions have driven fruitful practical cooperation. Last year, bilateral trade between Ningbo and North Macedonia grew by 21.4% year-on-year. Ningbo-based Joyson Electronics has invested in North Macedonia, creating over 1,300 jobs. China hopes to leverage the sister-city ties to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, consolidate the foundations of friendship, and inject fresh vitality into the sustained, sound, and stable growth of bilateral relations.