Today's agreement is a precursor to a formal International Alliance Agreement between the two cities that will outline joint efforts that Toronto and Chongqing will undertake to achieve mutual environmental and economic benefits.

"We have a real opportunity through our city to city relationships around the world to affect environmental change on a global level," said Mayor Miller. "Where national governments have fallen behind in matters concerning the very real issue of climate change, we at the city level are taking a leadership role."

Both cities will share best practices and approaches to delivering energy efficiency in buildings (new and retrofitted) and greenhouse gas emissions reductions so that their respective capabilities can be developed to their mutual benefit. Among the first initiatives to benefit from the agreement is Toronto's Tower Renewal Project where Chongqing will work with Toronto to determine how the goals and principles of the project might be adapted to the Chongqing context.

Launching this year, Toronto's Tower Renewal Project initiative combines energy-efficient insulation of the external walls and balconies of existing high-rise towers with renewable energy installations, green roofs, on-site waste management, improved parks, urban agriculture, water efficiency measures, community meeting spaces and overall community and site revitalization.

At today's signing ceremony, Mayor Miller spoke warmly about Toronto's 22-year sister-city relationship with Chongqing, and recalled Chongqing Mayor Wang Hongju's visit to Toronto in 2006 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of that relationship.

"Chongqing represents the future of China," said Mayor Miller. "As China's largest municipality with an economy that grows more than 15 per cent annually, residents of Chongqing look forward to a bright future of opportunity and prosperity. I am particularly pleased that we will be working together to set the standard for how global cities can innovate to solve urban problems such as climate change, and energy conservation and efficiency."

The business mission to three major cities - Chongqing, Beijing and Shanghai, China - will help Toronto meet significant goals of the recently released "Agenda for Prosperity" and support Toronto's emergence as a leading global city of the 21st century through economic growth, internationalization, creativity and inclusion.

Toronto is Canada's largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.6 million people. It is the economic engine of Canada and one of the greenest and most creative cities in North America. In the past three years, Toronto has won more than 70 awards for quality, innovation and efficiency in delivering public services. Toronto's government is dedicated to prosperity, opportunity and liveability for all its residents

Country: Canada