Japan’s westernmost city of Shimonoseki agreed to attend the World Horticulture Exposition, to be held in Qingdao in 2014, in a contract signed yesterday with the east China coastal city, becoming Qingdao’s first sister city to confirm participation.

Qingdao's Mayor Zhang Xinqi said the relationship between the two sides has fully showcased friendly Sino-Japanese exchanges since the two cities established friendship in 1979. He hoped the 2014 Qingdao Horticulture Expo will open up new fields of cooperation between Qingdao and Shimonoseki, as well as other sister cities of Qingdao.