Saipan Mayor Juan B. Tudela sees an improvement in the tourism industry on island after signing a sister-city agreement with his visiting counterpart from Baishan City, Jilin province, China.

"We also look forward to sharing cultural ties, information, technical assistance, business and other interests with Baishan City," Tudela told the Baishan delegates led by Mayor Liu Xie Jie.

The signing of the agreement on Friday at the Saipan mayor's office was also attended by Baishan City People's Congress Vice Chairman Xu Shi Ming, Baishan City Chief of Foreign Affairs Office Wang Hong Wei, Deputy Chief of Mineral Water and Resource Protection and Development Zhang Da Wei and Deputy Director for the Bureau of Commerce Zhang Xue Song.

Tudela said Saipan's relationship with the Chinese city must be nurtured, strengthened and preserved for the benefit of future generations.

To do this, he added, there's an urgent call for airlines serving Saipan and China to increase the frequency of flights.

Mayor Liu Xie Jie said he will promote Saipan in Baishan.

He described Saipan as "paradise for tourism," adding that he has been receiving good feedback from Chinese tourists about the island.

The city-sister agreement also vows to promote the welfare of the citizens of both jurisdictions and advance world peace.

The agreement calls for the promotion of friendship and understanding between Saipan and Baishan through mutual cultural exchange visits, including student exchanges, home-stays and other activities while promoting other forms of mutual exchange in the areas of culture, arts, agriculture and fisheries development, as well as other partnership projects.

This agreement can be amended or terminated by either party by providing a 30-day notice to the other party.

Baishan is famous for its forestry and mining activities as well as mineral water. It is also known as the "hometown of Chinese ginseng."