August 13th, Zhao Xiaojiang, standing member of the CPC Nanjing Committee and Vice-mayor led the Nanjing Municipal Delegation to pay a friendly visit to Perth, Australia. This is the senior-level visit and communication with most attendees since the two cities established sisterhood. Mayor of Perth, Lisa Scaffidi and the local people warmly welcomed the delegation.

Perth is the capital of the Australian state of the Western Australia. The city covers an area of 5,400 square meters and has a population of 1.2 million people. It is the 5th biggest city of Australia and the political, economic and cultural center of Australia. Perth became a sister city with Nanjing in 1998. It has made full preparations for the visit of the Nanjing Delegation. A Nanjing symbol has been mowed on the lawn in front of the city hall; LED lights outside the city hall form the worlds of "Nanjing-Perth 2010"; and pictures of landmark architectures and sight spots of both cities have been printed on table cards and gifts.

On the afternoon, Ms. Lisa Scaffidi presided over the welcoming party for Zhao Xiaojiang and his delegation. Government officials of Western Australia and Perth, representatives of enterprises and Chinese Communities, nearly 100 persons attended the party. Zhao and Ms. Scaffidi delivered ardent speeches to review the cooperation in the past 12 years and express the will of further enhance exchanges on trade, education, culture and tourism.

Before the party, the delegation visited the University of Western Australia and Bentley Technology Park. Also, the sub-group consists of private enterprise owners of Nanjing paid a visit to Western Australia Branch, Commerce and Industry Association of Australia, where they exchanged enterprise development in 2 cities. Nanjing Federation of Commerce and Industry and Western Australia Branch, Commerce and Industry Association of Australia signed memorandum on friendly communication and cooperation. (Political)