First Deputy Mayor Levon Hovhannisyan received the delegation headed by the Director-General of the Qingdao Municipal Development and Reform Xie Hongjin The leaders of “Prosperous Armenia” and “Luys” factions of Yerevan Council of Elders Mikael Manrikyan and David Khazhakyan were present at the meeting. Attaching particular importance to cooperation expansion between the partner cities, the First Deputy Mayor stressed the possibility of fulfilment of more practical programs. He is sure that due to teamwork and consistent efforts it will be possible to fulfil step by step all the provisions mentioned in the memorandum signed with Liu Xinxie last year. Like many other big cities Yerevan encounters numerous challenges and the city authorities attached importance to experience exchange and implementation of mutually beneficial programs with sister and partner cities.
The Director-General of the Qingdao Municipal Development and Reform Commission Xie Hongjin expressed gratitude for the willingness to cooperate and noted that they also consider it important to realize practical programs with one of the most ancient cities of the world and to develop ties with Yerevan. The Director-General stressed that the document signed between the two cities is a good opportunity to implement joint programs in various spheres of urban economy. Yerevan has an ancient history and rich culture, and Qingdao is one of the leading touristic centres of China, so the residents of these cities have great opportunities to get to know each other better and to become friends.
To put the programs stipulated by the agreement into practice Mr. Hongjin invited the Yerevan delegation to Qingdao with a reciprocal visit adding that it will make it possible to get to know on the spot about the management and challenges of the city with approximately 10 million population.