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)