Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (L) delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the two-day China International Friendship Cities Conference in Beijing, capital of China, on Nov. 8, 2008.

Source: CCTV.com | 11-09-2008 08:53
The China International Friendship Cities Conference has been held in Beijing. At the opening ceremony on Saturday, Vice President Xi Jinping said sister cities have opened channels for Chinese cities seeking international cooperation, becoming an integral part of China's exchanges with other countries.

The conference has drawn some 500 participants from cities around China as well as dozens of foreign countries.

At the opening ceremony, Xi Jinping said sister-city exchanges have helped deepen China's cooperation with countries around the world, and promote better understanding between peoples of different cultures.

Since 1973, when China's Tianjin and Japan's Kobe became sister cities, nearly 1500 pairs of sister cities have been formed between China and other countries.

The vice president said the rapid growth of sister-cities has benefited from, and in turn also helped, China's reform and opening-up policy.

Xi Jinping said China will firmly stick to the path of reform and opening-up, and step up friendly exchanges with other countries via the formation of more sister cities.

Xi pointed out that sister cities can learn from each other, share governing experiences, and boost cooperation in such areas as public services.

He also proposed mutually beneficial cooperation in the face of global challenges, like climate, energy, food security and the financial crisis.

Echoing Xi Jinping's belief, the vice mayor of Kobe, Isao Vzaki, said his city is ready to deepen cooperation with its counterparts in China.

During an award ceremony held later the same day,ten provinces and 15 cities around China were recognized for their close friendship and cooperation with their foreign counterparts.