Wuhan, capital city of Hubei Province, and Christchurch, New Zealand, celebrated the 15th anniversary of the establishment of their sister-city relationship on June 9, via a video link.
The two cities established international sister-city relationship on 2006.
Speaking at the online celebration, Wuhan mayor Cheng Yongwen expressed his sincere greetings and best wishes to the people of Christchurch and thanked friends from all walks of life who have supported the promotion of friendly exchanges between the two cities for a long time.
He said that the two sides have carried out a series of mutually beneficial cooperation in the fields of education, culture, tourism, economy and trade, seeing frequent personnel exchanges and increasing cooperation projects. Wuhan, reborn from the ashes, has regained its vigor and vitality with robust economic recovery, while Christchurch, which once suffered from a strong earthquake, has achieved remarkable results in city reconstruction and economic and social development.
It is hoped that the two cities will take the 15th anniversary as a new starting point, to deepen economic and trade cooperation, expand two-way investment, strengthen inter-school exchanges and tourism interaction, as well as to bring about a number of practical cooperation projects, he added.
Lianne Dalziel, mayor of Christchurch, called the video link a milestone in the 15th anniversary celebration. She noted that the past year is of great challenge and test for both sides, however, the two peoples have moved forward with perseverance amid difficulties and worked hand in hand to overcome the hardship.
She was very optimistic about the cooperation and development between the two cities and looked forward to moving ahead together in the future.
A memorandum of cooperation on establishing friendly exchange relationship was signed online between the two cities, in accordance with which, exchanges and cooperation in the fields of education, culture and tourism will be further enhanced.
(Source: en.hubei.gov.cn)
