Visiting Beijing Vice Mayor Lu Hao and Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai signed in Tel Aviv, Israel on Tuesday evening an agreement on establishment of sister city relations between their two cities.

 

According to the agreement, the two cities will carry out various exchanges and cooperation in the future in the fields of economy, trade, science and technology, culture, education, sports, health and professionals on the basis of the principle of equality and mutual benefit to promote mutual development and prosperity.

 

The leaders and relevant departments of the two municipalities will keep in touch so as to consult with each other on issues of exchanges and cooperation as well as those of common concern, said the agreement.

 

Addressing the signing ceremony, Liu Qi, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, said that Beijing has been attaching importance to developing friendly relation and cooperation with Tel Aviv and its citizens as well.

 

Liu, who headed a CPC delegation to visit Israel at the invitation of the Israeli government, also expressed his confidence that the two cities will facilitate their cooperation on the basis of this agreement.

 

Chinese Ambassador to Israel Chen Yonglong also attended the signing ceremony.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 22, 2006)