Belfast signed a historic `Sister Cities' agreement with the Chinese city of Hefei tonight.
The agreement - much more than a twinning - is the culmination of an eight-year relationship and will strengthen civic, commercial and cultural ties.
The agreement was signed by Lord Mayor Wallace Browne and Hefei Mayor Guo Wanging at a ceremony in Belfast City Hall.
It commits the two cities to work together on a range of issues of mutual benefit and interest, including business development and investment, education and training.
It will also help strengthen links between the council and Belfast's Chinese community.
Hefei, a city of 1.2 million people, is the capital of Anhui Province in eastern China, and among China's top 50 cities - having been selected by the Chinese Government as a Special Economic zone with an emphasis on scientific, information technology and financial activities.
Back in 1997 the city council, recognising the importance of China in the global economy, started making links with the world's largest emerging market and made its first official visit to Hefei three years later.
"We have been working hard to forge relationships with China for eight years, as there can be absolutely no doubt that China represents a massive opportunity for local businesses," said Councillor Michael Browne, chairman of the Economic and Development Sub-Committee.
"It is our objective to enable local companies to use our relationship with Hefei to minimise the legal and regulatory obstacles to the Chinese market," he said.
During a two-day visit the seven strong delegation from Hefei is due to attend a range of briefings, seminars and meetings with representatives of the council, Investment Belfast, Invest NI, the city's education sector, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and the Chinese Welfare Association.
It also was due to visit Delta Packaging, the first local company to establish a joint venture in China.
Later in the year the Council will be launching an export development programme for local companies seeking to do business in China.
PA