IPOH - Ipoh has forged a friendship agreement with the city of Lianyungang, its second with a city in China, after the one with Nanning.
Ipoh Mayor Datuk Rumaizi Baharin said the regional cooperation aimed to strengthen the roles of the two cities as well as increase their potential in various sectors.
"Prior to this, we had (forged a friendship agreement with) Nanning in Southern China. Today we have added the city of Lianyungang, which is in Central China. This cooperation covers discussions on the economy, trade, culture, tourism and education.
"It also involves the Economic Planning Unit, Perak Tourism, Invest Perak, Perak State Development Corporation and the Perak Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry,” he said at a press conference, here today.
Earlier, representing the Ipoh City Council Rumaizi signed a letter of intent with Xing Zhengjun, the Mayor of Lianyungang, at the Council building near here.
In April, Rumaizi said that Ipoh was prepared to forge another friendship agreement with Dalian in Northern China, whereas, in June, Ipoh renewed its 18-year friendship agreement with the city of Nanning, represented by its Foreign Affairs Office deputy director, Huang Haiyan.
The first agreement was signed by the then Ipoh Mayor, Datuk Hassan Nawawi and Nanning’s Deputy Mayor Xiao Yingzi in Kuala Lumpur in 2005.
Meanwhile, Rumaizi said the friendship between the cities will create many job opportunities, for residents of Ipoh in particular and people of Perak generally.
"We hope this friendship can benefit the citizens of both cities, especially with job opportunities in sectors such as tourism, science and technology, sports, healthcare and education,” he said. - BERNAMA