Ottawa and Beijing signed a milestone agreement in Ottawa on October 19 to become the 27th pair of sister cities between China and Canada.

　 At the ceremony held in Ottawa's City Hall, Jia Qinglin, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China, expressed a strong hope to further cooperate with Canada in hi- tech industry and city construction.

　 Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson and Deputy Mayor of Beijing Yue Fuhong signed the agreement on behalf of the two capital cities.

　 Jia, who is also secretary of the Beijing Municipal Party Committee and chairman of the Capital Planning Commission, expressed belief that Ottawa, as a hi-tech center in Canada, and with a variety of construction masterpieces, would have broad prospects for cooperation with Beijing.

　 Watson, who visited Beijing in March this year, noted that both sides need to expand cooperation for greater development.

　 Under a millennium program for friendly exchanges, Beijing will invite academics in Ottawa to attend a Beijing hi-tech week, while Ottawa will help train professionals from Beijing.

　 Jia arrived here Sunday night following a visit to Vancouver last Friday and is going to Montreal next Friday. (Xinhua)