China Has 1,000 Pairs of International Friendship CitiesAs released on April 25 from the 3rd National Council of China International Friendship City League the international friendship cities in China had already reached 1012 pairs of by the end of last year.Qian Qichen, Vice-Premier of the State Council, sent a congratulatory message to the conference, saying that the work of international friendship cities, as part of China's reform and opening work, has played an active role in strengthening the understanding and friendship between the people of China and the world. And the Chinese Government has set great store by it and supported the extensive and substantial communications and cooperation between the Chinese cities and their counterparts in alien lands via the channel of international friendship cities. By the end of 2000, 30 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities and 247 cities of China have established friendship ties with 234 provinces, states, counties and regions and 773 cities of 103 countries. By PD Online staff member Deng Gang |
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