Milestones

Government visits

1981: Mayors of the two cities sign an agreement for establishing sister city relations, the first of its kind in China.

2006: Montpellier Mayor Helene Mandroux attends the opening ceremony for the Montpellier Home during her visit to Chengdu in May. The city governments sign a five-year cooperation plan starting from 2006.

2008: A delegation headed by a Montpellier deputy mayor donates 100,000 euros ($136,320) to Chengdu for rebuilding a school, the first visit from sister cities after the severe earthquake in May.

2011: The Chengdu government visits Montpellier for celebration of the 30th anniversary of the sister city relations. The delegation also attends a groundbreaking ceremony for Chengdu Primary School in the French city.

2013: Montpellier deputy mayor attends the groundbreaking ceremony for Montpellier Primary School in Chengdu and discusses building medical research centers with local authoritiess.

Economic exchanges

2007: A wine trade delegation from Montpellier participates in Chengdu's first international agricultural expo.

2012: Montpellier delegation holds a wine tasting of its home products at the Chengdu sweet food and alcoholic drink fair.

Educational cooperation

2007: The Chengdu healthcare administration cooperates with a medical school in Montpellier to create Europe's first college diploma in traditional Chinese medical treatment.

2013: Chengdu Primary School opens in Montpellier, while a Confucius Institute is unveiled in the French city.

2014: Montpellier Primary School scheduled to open this autumn.

Cultural promotion

1991: French Movie Week in Chengdu celebrates the 10th anniversary of the sister city relations.

2012: Chengdu hosts an international tourism alliance meeting with its 11 sister cities; Montpellier is voted the host of the following year's session.

2013: A Montpellier group joins the China International Youth Music Festival in Chengdu.

Sports and healthcare

2013: Chengdu sends two teams to the Montpellier international teenage football championship.

Chengdu wins the bid to host the 2014-16 international extreme sports games, an event that originated in Montpellier.

2014: After an agreement is signed in January, a research center for mental health and diabetes prevention is scheduled to open in October.

(China Daily European Weekly 06/13/2014 page23)