Julie Hardaker, Mayor of Hamilton, New Zealand, and Wuxi mayor Wang Quan signed an agreement to strengthen exchanges during her visit in Wuxi on June 22, to mark 30 years as sister cities.

In the past, both cities have cooperated in culture, education and economy, said Wang, adding that it was even hailed as a good example of local cooperation between China and New Zealand by Helen Clark, the 37th Prime Minister of New Zealand.

Hardaker hoped Wuxi and Hamilton could continue to work together in areas of trade, culture, tourism and environment protection, as well as hunt for more business opportunities.

Hamilton is New Zealand's fourth most-populous and largest inland city. It is at the center of one of the richest agricultural and pastoral areas in the world. The city is home to a number of New Zealand's science research facilities and national agricultural expos, including the largest agricultural trade show in the Southern Hemisphere.