QINGDAO, Shandong - Top government officials from Mumbai, Rio de Janeiro, Saint Petersburg and Qingdao signed an agreement at the BRIC Partner Cities' Meeting on Wednesday to promote cooperation between them.

The signing of the Qingdao Initiative shows the strong willingness of the BRIC countries to cooperate, after the leaders of the BRICS countries, Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, released the Sanya Declaration at their meeting in April in southern China's Hainan province, said Xia Geng, mayor of Qingdao.

According to the initiative, the four cities will strengthen government contacts and dialogue, and work toward establishing an inter-city agency for information exchange and building a shared platform for business information.

All of the BRIC partner cities will bring into full play their respective strengths in emerging industries and strengthen exchanges of technology and management experience. They will also make efforts to promote the "BRICS Plaza" project in Qingdao.

The four cities will also expand their culture, education and youth exchanges, and strengthen cooperation in tourism resource development.

"Our partner cities' meeting is an effective way to carry out the agreements achieved during the BRICS leaders' meeting," said Xia.

"It also expands Qingdao's Qingdao's link with the world, and helps our partner cities and the rest of the world know Qingdao better."

Tatiana Rosito, the representative of the mayor of Rio de Janeiro and counselor of economic and trade affairs at the embassy of Brazil in China, said she was eager to see closer cooperation and people-to-people exchanges with more BRIC cities, especially Qingdao.

"As the sailing competition host city for the 2016 Olympic Games, Rio de Janeiro has a connection with Qingdao, which hosted the Olympic sailing completions during the 2008 Beijing Olympics," Rosito said.

China Daily