Kaohsiung mayor Chen Chu met with her Beijing counterpart Guo Jinlong in Beijing Thursday on the first day of her visit to the mainland.

Chen led a delegation to promote the World Games, to be held in Taiwan's port city Kaohsiung the coming July.

Guo talked about Beijing's experience as host of the Olympic Games in regards to city planning, environmental protection and tourism.

"Beijing and Kaohsiung share many similarities and both have successful experience in improving infrastructure and people's livelihood. We could exchange well," he said.

Chen said she hoped to learn lessons from Beijing's experience so as to better prepare for the coming World Games.

She hoped more Beijingers would visit Kaohsiung, a "young and energetic city", when they travel to Taiwan.

The World Games started in 1981 and is held every four years. It includes many sports such as Latin dance, bodybuilding and tug of war.

(Xinhua News Agency May 21, 2009)