The mayors of Shenzhen and Osaka signed an agreement last week to enhance cooperation between the two cities in the fields of environmental protection, energy saving, new energy and tourism, according to the agreement which increases the number of Shenzhen's friendship cities to 20.
Osaka, which is almost the same size as Shenzhen, is a model of economic development, scientific innovation, urban management and quality of life, said Shenzhen Communist Party Chief Wang Rong.
Shenzhen Mayor Xu Qin said the city should improve its quality of life by spending more on infrastructure, social welfare, hygiene and urban management, all of which are highly developed in Osaka.
Osaka Mayor Kunio Hiramatsu said that Osaka used to rely heavily on manufacturing, which led to severe pollution. All that had changed, however, and the city is now a world leader in the research and development of new energy technology.
