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CIRCULAR OF THE GENERAL OFFICE OF THE STATE COUNCIL CONCERNING THE DECISION THAT STREETS AND BUILDINGS IN CHINA'S CITIES WHICH HAVE ESTABLISHED A FRIENDLY RELATIONSHIP AS SISTER CITIES WITH CITIES OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES SHALL NOT BE NAMED AFTER THE PLACE NAMES OR PERSONAL NAMES OF THESE FOREIGNCOUNTRIES

    In recent years, in our contacts with foreign friendly cities, a few
cities have signed a "Memorandum" or "Minutes of Talks" with foreign
friendly cities, and these documents contain such contents as each party
using the city names of the other party to name its own city's streets. Such
practice is considered to be improper. Up to the present, our country has
established, with foreign countries, more than 240 pairs of sister cities
(states, or counties); and some of our cities have maintained friendly
relationship simultaneously with several foreign cities. In the days to come,
if other countries would raise the same proposal, or some of our cities would
like to follow suit, using the city names of the other party to name their
own city's streets, this practice will surely cause confusion. Besides, the
existing names of streets in China have been in use for many years, and the
broad masses of people are familiar with these names. It is not easy for them
to get used to foreign names. What is more, some foreign place names and
personal names are long with many syllables and would cause inconvenience
in use. To remedy this situation, the following provisions are hereby
formulated:

    (1) In our endeavour to promote friendship among cities, emphasis should
be laid on practical results, and no streets or buildings of China shall be
named after the place names or personal names of the other party. If the
other party raises the proposal, we can politely decline it by giving the
reason that such practice does not exist in China.

    (2) In a few special cases where, for the sake of commemoration, it is
necessary to use the place names or personal names of the other party to name
our country's streets or buildings, the case shall be reported, in advance, to
the State Council for examination and approval; and, without approval, it is
not permitted to make any promise to the other partner-city.