Mayor of Banjul Rohey Malick Lowe has strengthened the long-standing partnership between Banjul and the Chinese city of Nanning, following a ceremonial meeting with Mayor Hou Gang during her official visit to China.

The event, which marked a major milestone in the decades-long twinning relationship between the two cities, saw the official handover of three custom-designed waste management trucks and 230 modern solar street lights to the Banjul City Council (BCC).

Mayor Lowe said the ceremony was historic, recalling that the twinning of Banjul and Nanning began in 1987 — discussions that were initiated during the tenure of her late father, Alhaji Malick Lowe, who served as Mayor of Banjul in the 1980s.

She said the partnership has now evolved from symbolic cooperation into strategic development collaboration focused on urban planning, waste management, sustainability, and community safety.

The three new waste management trucks, custom-designed to suit the narrow and winding roads of Banjul, will boost the council’s efforts to improve waste handling and keep the city clean.

The smaller, technologically updated trucks were built through a research and development approach tailored specifically to Banjul’s needs.

Mayor Lowe also received 230 solar-powered street lights, with 30 reserved for “Little Nanning,” a community project in The Gambia identified for immediate installation.

She said the street lighting initiative aligns with her Safe City agenda as President of REFELA Africa, aimed at promoting safer urban spaces for women, girls, and local businesses.

“This lighting project helps create a safer city, especially for women and girls, while supporting evening commercial activities,” she said.

Mayor Lowe said the new agreement between Banjul and Nanning will open wider areas of cooperation, including urban development, infrastructure, innovation, and community empowerment.

“Our partnership with Nanning has moved from friendship to meaningful development support. We are building a Banjul that even future generations will be proud of,” she said.

She thanked the Gambian Ambassador to China, Liu Jin, for his role in facilitating the partnership and enhancing the diplomatic relationship between the two cities.

Mayor Lowe was accompanied by Councillors Abdoulie Gaye, Fallou Gallas Ceesay and Mamud Ceesay, as well as development consultant Latirr Carr, who is leading elements of the Safe City project.