Chinese, Russian officials discuss sister city cooperation
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2004-10-27 00:32

Delegates from more than 30 Chinese and Russian cities gathered in Beijing Tuesday to discuss future cooperation between sister cities and agreed to promote multi- level exchanges.

On the third China-Russia sister city meeting which held in Beijing Tuesday, delegates from the two countries carried out warm discussions on the development of friendly relations. Some cities also formally established sister city links during the meeting.

Chen Haosu, president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), said that along with the deepening of China-Russia relations, the cooperation and exchanges between the two countries' cities are getting more and more close.

At present, 66 pairs of sister cities have been established between China and Russia. They conducted fruitful cooperation in various areas, including economy, science, technology, culture and education.

He said the sister cities of the two countries have played an active role in promoting mutual understanding and expanding bilateral cooperation.

During Russian President Vladimir Putin's China visit earlier this month, he co-chaired a symposium with Chinese Vice-Premier Wu Yi on the expansion of China-Russia regional cooperation. "This fully demonstrates that China-Russia regional cooperation becomes increasingly vibrant, and plays an important role in the development of bilateral relations," Chen said.

The developing strategy of China's western region and the rejuvenation of the old industrial bases in northeast China has provided new possibilities for the bilateral regional cooperation, he said.

Russian ambassador to China Igor Rogachev said that during Putin's visit to China, representatives from more than 60 Russian localities had concrete exchanges with Chinese regional officials, which helped consolidate and push forward bilateral cooperation in various fields.

As capitals of China and Russia, Beijing and Moscow set up sister city links in May 1995. Beijing Vice-Mayor Zhang Mao said that since then, the two cities have cooperated extensively in the fields of culture, education, public health, economy, trade and city construction.

The two sides also had positive cooperation in the bid for holding Olympic Games, Zhang said.

Moscow Vice-Mayor M. Men said the partnership with Chinese cities is a priority of Moscow's international exchanges.

 The first and second China-Russia sister city meetings were held in Moscow in 1997 and 2002.

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