The Tianjin Municipal People's Government has signed a cooperation memorandum with Bangalore City, creating the first friendship ties established at the local level between China and India.  

According to the memorandum, the two cities will cooperate in three fields, namely city development, the information industry and the exchanges between counterparts in those areas.

The city development includes transportation, public health, architecture, education, science and technology, commerce, trade, tourism and culture. The information industry includes information management and the research and development of new materials and products, according to the Tianjin Municipal People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.

Bangalore is the capital of Karnataka state with an area of 2,190 square kilometers and a population of 6.5 million. It is regarded as the "silicon valley" and "scientific capital" of India since it exported one-third of the country's total software products. Food processing, steel and cement also boom in the city.

Tianjin is one of the four municipalities in China which covers 11,900 square kilometers and boasts 10 million population. It is the biggest port city and an important economic powerhouse in north China.

(Xinhua News Agency December 4, 2003)