The city of Guangzhou has forged sister- city and friendly-city ties with over 100 cities throughout the world. Over the years, the higher education sector of the Guangzhou Municipality has drawn tremendous support from these international friendships. Guangzhou University, as the flagship university of Guangzhou, is proud to have formed strong partnerships with many of these international sister-city universities.

This international network in December 2018 took a new and exciting step with the formation of the Alliance of Guangzhou International Sister-City Universities (GISU) which attracts and leverages the academic resources of its members in close coordination for the sustainable development of its cities.

Fulfilling its mission of enhancing mutual understanding between Guangzhou and its friendship cities, GISU will encourage friendly inter-city visits which promote educational development and cultural exchanges among institutions which foster mutual benefits and promote cooperation and development. GISU's seven original members included Guangzhou University, Linkoping University, University of Coimbra, University of Padua, University of Quebec at Montreal, University of Tampere and Western Sydney University.

GISU today represents 20 members, 16 countries, 19 sister-city and friendly cities with a combined population of almost 38 million and over half a million students with 47,000 faculty and staff.

Stronger together, GISU's great diversity of academic programs and research capacity represent the best of the world.