Qingdao City of east China's Shandong Province organized an intercity promotional conference in the French city of Brest on June 11. As the Chinese city is playing host to the 2008 Olympic Sailing Regatta, the conference was titled "Meeting at the Olympics, Sailing in Qingdao."

 

At the conference, Mayor of Qingdao Xia Geng said that the two cities had officially signed an agreement establishing ties a month ago. Brest is reputed to be the "French Navy Capital" and the "Center of French Sea Scientific Research." Qingdao, which provides important harbor facilities in China, is well-known as a naval port and for the development of technology used on the high seas. 

 

 

Xia said Qingdao's container throughput stood at 13th place in the world and the city was home to one third of the country's institutes and personnel working on scientific research related to the sea.  The city is also a well known tourist destination with 25 million visitors from both home and overseas visiting annually. 

 

He said that as Qingdao will host the 2008 Olympic Sailing Regatta, the city wishes to further develop broad, active and fruitful communication and cooperation with Brest in economy, trade, scientific research of the sea and sports involving sailing boats.

 

Mayor of Brest François Cuillandre said in his address that he is very glad to establish links with Qingdao and expects cooperation in economy, culture and sports.

 

The press councilor of China's Embassy in France, Bian Jianqiang, congratulated the two cities on behalf of the embassy and hoped their friendly communication and cooperation could be promoted to benefit Chinese and French relations.

 

According to a Chinanews' report on June 12, promotional activities will also be held in Nantes in France on June 13 and in Southampton, UK on June 15.

 

(China.org.cn by Zhou Jing June 14, 2006)