Guangzhou and Limassol, the second largest city in Cyprus, signed an agreement to establish a Friendly City relationship between the two cities on September 11.

(Photo provided to GDToday)

The agreement was signed under the Joint Statement between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Cyprus on the Establishment of a Strategic Partnership.

On the ceremony of MoU signing, Du Xinshan, Head of the Guangzhou Publicity Department, and Nicos Nicolaides, Mayor of Limassol, further discussed on strengthening exchanges and cooperation between the two cities, especially in the fields of trade, culture, and tourism.

Liu Yantao, Chinese Ambassador to Cyprus, said Guangzhou and Limassol are both economic centers and important ports with a long history and splendid culture. “We hope that the two cities will draw on each other's strength to pursue mutual benefit, and inject new impetus into the China-Cyprus strategic partnership.”

On the evening of September 10, the Guangzhou Cultural Art Troupe, Laografikos Omilos Lemesou Art Troupe of Cyprus, and Chinese young people in Cyprus jointly held a Chinese Culture Day activity at Pattihio Theatre Limassol, the largest theatre in Cyprus.

Limassol is located in the innermost part of Limassol Bay on the south coast of Cyprus and is the largest port city of Cyprus, with a population of about 160 thousand people. Over the past 20 years, more than half of Cyprus's exports and 90 percent of its imports have passed through Limassol, making it the country’s main import and export trade center. Limassol is also a beautiful city where various cultural events such as the Limassol International Multi-arts Festival, Wine Festival, Flower Festival, Carnival, and Fruit Festival are held every year.

To date, Guangzhou has forged friendly relations with 103 cities in 67 countries.