Xi'an celebrates 50th anniversary of sister city relations with Nara

A celebration for the 50th anniversary of the sister city relationship between Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi province and Nara, Japan, was held on Jan 19.

Xi'an Mayor Ye Niuping andNara MayorMotonobu Nakagawa attended the event and delivered speeches.

Ye first welcomed the arrival of Nakagawa and his delegation, expressed his gratitude to people who have long been committed to promoting friendly exchanges between Xi'an and Nara, and briefly introduced Xi'an's economic and social development.

He said that Xi'an and Nara are both ancient capitals with profound historical connections, frequent personnel exchanges, and deep-rooted friendship. Since they officially became sister cities in 1974, the two sides have carried out extensive exchanges and cooperation in the fields of culture, education, and sports.

Ye said that Xi'an hopes to work with Nara to further expand practical cooperation in the fields of scientific and technological innovation, foreign investment and trade, cultural tourism, education, and sports.

Nakagawaexpressed his appreciation for Xi'an's achievements in economic and social development. He said that Xi'an is not only an ancient capital with a long history, but also a dynamic modern city with rich scientific and educational resources, strong innovation capabilities, a solid industrial foundation, and huge development potential.

It is hoped that the two cities will deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in the fields of humanities, science and technology, economy, and trade through resource sharing and tourist sources, Nakagawa added.

On Jan 19-20, Nakagawa and his delegation also visited Xixian New Area,the Xi'an Yisu Theater, Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum, the Grand Tang Mall, and Xi'an City Wall.