Agreements of the first batch of friendship cities between China and India were officially signed on the morning of October 23rd in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The signing, achieving zero breakthrough of friendship city between China and India, was held in the presence of Premier Li Keqiang and Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India during his visit to China. On behalf of the CPAFFC, President Li Xiaolin attended the signing ceremony and welcome banquet that Premier Li Keqiang hosted for Prime Minister Singh.

Signing of these agreements is an important follow-up of the achievements of Premier Li Keqiang’s visit to India in May this year, and one of the most important achievements of Prime Minister Singh’s visit to China this time. During the Press Conference after the signing, Premier Li Keqiang specially mentioned that the establishment of the first batch of friendship cities between China and India is a breakthrough of China-India city exchanges, which will strongly promote extensive exchange between people of the two countries. Prime Minister Singh indicated that the signing of friendship city agreements will effectively strengthen mutual cooperations.

The first batch of China-Indian friendship cities include Beijing & Delhi, Chengdu & Bengaluru, Kunming & Kalkata. Mr. Li Shixiang, vice mayor of Beijing, Mr. Ge Honglin, mayor of Chengdu and Mr. Li Wenrong, mayor of Kunming signed the agreement on behalf of their respective cities with Mr. S. Jaishankar, Ambassador of India to China. All three mayors expressed sincere thanks to Mme. Li Xiaolin for CPAFFC’s great support and sustained efforts to promote the twinning with Indian cities. They wish to get more support from the CPAFFC and further develop close cooperations. 

In order to promote the establishment of the first batch of China-India friendship cities, Mme. Li Xiaolin visited India twice within three months and gave the Indian side an extensive introduction of the significance of friendship cities in promoting local developments, which were widely appreciated by the Indian side and help them fully understood the positive role of friendship cities. The signing of the first batch of China-India friendship cities has opened a new page in serving the overall diplomacy of China and promoting local exchange with India.