Jingdezhen, the traditional home of China's porcelain industry, recently forged sister ties with porcelain producers in the United States and Britain.

The city, in east China's Jiangxi Province, has signed a letter of intent with Stoke-on-Trent in Britain and Door County in Wisconsin of the United States in a bid to promote technical cooperation in porcelain development.

As the earliest porcelain maker in the world, Jingdezhen has served as a ceramics capital for more than 1,700 years. Its products are well received at home and abroad.

Stoke-on-Trent began porcelain production in the 14th century. Currently, more than 250,000 people in Stoke-on-Trent engage in porcelain-related production. Door County has a vast group of ceramic artists who had developed products famous in the United States.

Under the letter of intent, the three sides will make joint efforts to create a favorable environment for multi-level non-governmental cooperation in the ceramics industry, build a system for exchanging information in ceramic development, take an active part in exhibitions and trade activities respectively organized by the three locations and host seminars and porcelain-making demonstrations.

A Chinese expert said it is conducive for Jingdezhen to strengthen cooperation with its partners in other regions and raise its competitiveness in porcelain production.
 
(Xinhua News Agency October 20, 2004)