Lydia Chen/ Shanghai Daily news

Shanghai will strengthen its cooperation with the city of London on the way to being an international metropolitan, Mayor Han Zheng said while meeting with a British delegation headed by David Brewer, the Lord Mayor of London at the Guest House yesterday.

Han said Shanghai is trying to become a more modernized international city in the international economy, as well as in shipping, finance and trade industries. Fortunately, the city of London, a trade and financial center in the capital of Britain, can offer its expertise and successes in finance, tertiary and other aspects that are a useful to Shanghai's growth.

At the meeting, Brewer was also awarded by the city government a Magnolia Silver Award, which is given every year to expatriates who have made an outstanding contribution to the city's economic, social or cultural advancement.

Brewer said he felt deeply honored by the award, while hailing the achievements Shanghai has made since his first visit to the city 25 years ago. He said further and more comprehensive cooperation between Shanghai and the city of London would create a win-win situation for both parties.

David Brewer, whose Chinese name is Bai Lewei and nickname is "Mr. China," has visited the mainland 105 times. As his second visit to China after becoming the Lord Mayor of London, Brewer is now heading a delegation of more than 60 economic professionals, the biggest to visit China in the past few years. The delegation is also scheduled to visit Shanghai, Beijing, Tianjin, Shenyang and Dalian during the ten-day visit to China.