Beijing and Berlin, two state capitals with great cultural tradition, should enhance their friendship with more direct contact among their residents, visiting Beijing mayor Liu Qi Tuesday said in Berlin.

One kind of this friendly exchange is tourism, he added at a reception hosted by his Berlin counterpart Eberhard Diepgen. "We hope, that with tourism and the common love to our historical and cultural inheritance, we can enhance understanding and friendship between our two nations, and make contribution to the peace and development of the world," said Liu. Liu presented Dipgen and some 300 guests with not only the traditional scenarios in Beijing, but also the development of Chinese capital.

"With the beginning of our reforming and opening policy, Beijing has been modernized. Now it has become an international and modern metropolis," he said.

Yu Changjiang, director of Beijing Tourism Agency, introduced the latest changes in downtown Beijing with dozens of projection photos. And Hu Xiaodan, whom the Beijing officials called "the top designer of our city," presented his works symbolizing the Beijing Imperial Palace.

The German capital laid much importance to Liu's visit. A statement of Diepgen said, "it is very good that German capital links with the capital of China as a partner. Your visit has brought something lively to the partnership between our two cities. "