SHANGHAI, China, November 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

The Chinese city "overlooking the sea" and its twin city Marseille celebrate a quarter of a century of friendship and cooperation. This anniversary provides the opportunity to sign a new cooperation agreement for 2012-2014. Shanghai authorities will host an important three-day official Marseille delegation revolving around a programme of ceremonies, meetings and workshops. Officials, entrepreneurs and investors from both countries will discuss opportunities for cooperation and exchanges between Shanghai, China, Marseille and Provence.

The agenda includes culture, high-end products, real estate, transport / ports and education. Nearly 50 institutions and companies from Marseille and Provence will reveal in Shanghai the evolving creativity and know-how of this French territory, and how its dynamism and charm make it one of the most attractive areas in France. Perfume, wine, food, fashion, art and knowledge will feature, as well as the port, extensive real-estate projects and the Marseille-Provence programme - European Capital of Culture 2013.

"I am delighted to celebrate the 25th anniversary of our strong friendship, endow the many actions implemented together for a quarter of a century in several key areas, and see our partnership develop further," stated Didier Parakian, Deputy Mayor and Delegate of Marseille Export Business Development.

The two port capitals, one at the gates of Asia and the other at the gates of Europe and the Mediterranean, maintain historical relations in various maritime, commercial, cultural, educational, administrative and institutional sectors. Beyond municipal exchanges, the twinning with its ever growing vitality since 2001 has developed several partnerships in the areas of culture (libraries, exhibitions, dance, etc.), public health (emergency services, preventive medicine, dentistry, hospital management, etc.), safety (fire brigade), social welfare (youth, elderly, etc.), sport (football), tourism (natural, architectural and gastronomic patrimony), education (common MBA Euromed and Antaï School of Management), and economic and business development. These partnerships exist in different forms: exchange of knowledge, practices and people, co-productions, training, trade and investment.

Several Marseille and Provence companies, such as L'Occitane or Pernod Ricard, have established successfully in Shanghai; conversely, many Chinese companies, for example COSCO, have chosen to locate their offices or registered European or Mediterranean headquarters in Marseille.

INVITATION - PRESS CONFERENCE: Monday 3 December 2012 - 11:00 AM. at Hotel Sofitel Shanghai Hyland - 505 Nanjing Road East , 200001 SHANGHAI,  CHINA - RSVP

Press contacts: Aurore SUN +33(0)619-804-267 a.sun@spark-rp.com ; Stéphanie LAURIN +33(0)6-32-87-16-44 - slaurin@mairie-marseille.fr