The mayors of Beijing and London on Monday signed a ‘sister
city’ agreement vowing to promote exchanges and cooperation.
Visiting London Mayor Ken Livingstone said both cities would
benefit from enhanced links.
He said the agreement would promote the two cities as close
commercial partners and the understanding of each other's cultures
would be strengthened by communications in the tourism and culture
sectors. ?
Beijing and London are the two consecutive hosts of the Olympic Games in 2008 and 2012 respectively.
Mayor Livingstone and Mayor Wang Qishan agreed to enhance
cooperation for the Games. .
Wang was invited to attend a meeting of European Mayors in
London next year.
The sister city relationship, which will be effective for at
least five years, brings to the two large cities closer together
and could provide a platform for a range of business and cultural
initiatives. ?
London's other ‘sister cities’ are New York, Moscow, Berlin and
Paris.
Mayor Livingstone will promote London as a tourist destination
and academic center during his six-day visit to China.
(Xinhua News Agency April 11, 2006)
