Friendly Cooperation Between Meishan of Sichuan and Klinsky of Russia Turns a New Page

At the invitation of the Meishan Municipal Government of Sichuan Province and the Sichuan Provincial People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (SIFA)， the First Deputy Head of the Klinsky District Government of Moscow State Zujev Alexandr led a government delegation visiting Sichuan from May 22 to 29 and signed an agreement on establishing friendship-city ties with Meishan city. They also participated in the Seventh Western China International Economic and Trade Fair and The Week of Cooperation Between Sichuan and States of Russia in Economy and Trade---an important event of the Russia Year in China.

Since 1998， with the SIFA playing the role of go-between， Meishan and Klinsky District of Moscow State established close links and started friendly exchanges. In 1999， the two parties signed a letter of intent on establishing friendship relations. In the past 8 years， on the basis of equality， mutual benefit and common development， the two sides carried out exchanges and cooperation in many fields， including economy， trade， culture， education， health， etc. and thus， enhanced mutual understanding between the people， deepened friendship and forged a solid foundation for the establishment of friendship cities.

On May 25， Jiang Renfu， secretary of the Meishan City Committee of the CPC， Li Zhongguo， chairman of the Meishan City People’s Congress， Cui Baohua， mayor of Meishan and Yan Wenqing， chairman of the City Committee of the CPPCC held talks with the leading members of the Klinsky District and， on the basis of the Draft Agreement on Sister Relationship between Meishan City of Sichuan and Klinsky District of Moscow State of Russia signed in 1999， thoroughly exchanged views. Both sides expressed their satisfaction with the progress of friendly relations. Zujev said， the friendly relations between Klinsky District and Meishan as sister cities show the broad social basis of Russia-China friendly relations. We will cherish dearly this relationship and hope to open a new phase of all-around economic and cultural friendly cooperation through joint efforts.

After the meeting， both sides signed the official agreement on establishing