The opening ceremony of the Beijing-Seoul Friendly Exchange Year was held on Sunday evening, Beijing Times reported Monday.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of Beijing-Seoul’s twin-city relations.

Before addressing the ceremony, Beijing mayor Wang Anshun extended his deepest condolences and sympathy to the victims of the Sichuan earthquake on behalf of the Beijing government and Beijing’s citizens.

In the past 20 years, both cities achieved "comprehensive, friendly and cooperative relations", and the exchange activities in the Friendly Exchange Year are expected to “drive the development of the strategic and cooperative partnership” between the two countries, Wang said.

Seoul mayor Park Won-soon, on behalf of the Seoul government and Seoul’s citizens, expressed condolences to the earthquake victims, too.

The Republic of Korea 's ambassador to China, Lee Kyu-hyung, and Beijing officials Li Xiang and Chen Ping also attended the ceremony,