Hong Kong

The word Hong Kong, literally meaning "fragrant harbour", is derived from the area around the current Aberdeen and Wong Chuk Hang on the island of Hong Kong, where fragrant trees were abundant and exported in the past.

The climate in Hong Kong is equatorial. It is cool and dry in winter (January to March), hot, humid and rainy during the summer. It is hot, sunny and dry in the autumn.

Cantonese is one of the official languages of Hong Kong. However, the return of Hong Kong to China has provoked a renewed interest in Mandarin.

Hong Kong has the highest population density in the world. It is the 4th most expensive city in the world as regards property prices and 5th in the cost of living.

Despite the handover of Hong Kong to China on 1 July 1997, the Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong (HKSAR) has maintained its customs regulations. Thus, the territory of Hong Kong retained its status as port and remains a separate customs territory from the rest of China. Under the policy known as "One Country, Two Systems", Hong Kong will retain its legal system, its currency, its political system, its international sports teams and its immigration laws.

Hong Kong is the richest city in China, its economy is one of the most liberal in the world. The port of Hong Kong is probably the first global container port. Its strategic position makes it a gateway to the Chinese market and a transit point for international trade.

Toulouse ("The Pink City")

Toulouse is located in the south-west of France, north of the department of Haute-Garonne, on the wway of communication between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.

The city enjoys a temperate climate with mild fall and spring, and a warm, dry summer.

The capital of the Midi-Pyrenees region (the largest area of France with its 45000 km2), Toulouse is the 4th largest city in France (435000 inhabitants). Nestled between the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, 100 km in the Pyrenees and 730 km from Paris, Toulouse has increasing demographically which makes it one of the first cities of southern Europe.

The city is not only the birthplace of the firm Airbus is now a technology that brings together European numerous industries in the field of information technology and space, as well as many research institutes. It is also a university town, the third of France with 97000 students.

The city of Toulouse is twinned with the Chinese city of Chongqing since 1981.