With the Spring Festival fast approaching, the city of Zibo in East China's Shandong province has received its sister cities' Chinese New Year greetings via video messages that been sent by the city mayors.

The greetings are from eight sister cities – Erie city in the United States, Kamo city in Japan, Novgorod city and Bratsk city in Russia, Batumi city in Georgia, Gwangju city in the Republic of Korea, Mandaue city in Philippines, and La Roche-sur-Yon city in France. Two friendly cooperative cities – Shunan city in Japan and Magdeburg city in Germany – also sent greetings.

Joseph Schember, the mayor of Erie city in Northwestern Pennsylvania in the United States, gave his best wishes to Zibo's people, saying: "I definitely look forward to doing a lot of things over the next four years with all of you in Zibo."

The city of Erie was the very first sister city of Zibo, with the two having established friendly cooperation in 1985.

As the Pennsylvania's primary access point to Lake Erie, the city has an efficient public transport network.

Erie's manufacturing sectors – engine manufacturing, the paper industry, chemicals and communications equipment – remain prominent in the local economy.

Healthcare, education and tourism there are emerging as significant economic drivers.

A tranquil moment at Lake Erie in Erie, in Pennsylvania. [Photo/WeChat account: zbwsb_2017]

Akimi Fujita, the mayor of Kamo in the Niigata prefecture of Japan sent a video offering his congratulations on the Chinese New Year and extending his festive wishes to the people of Zibo.

Kamo city has long been called the "Little Kyoto" of the Hokuetsu region, boasting a traditional atmosphere and rich cultural tourism resources.

It is famous for producing kiri-tansu, a type of chest-of-drawers made from paulownia wood.

Colorful Koinobori, traditional Japanese carp-shaped windsocks, hang in rows over the Kamo River, in Kamo city in Japan. [Photo/WeChat account: zbwsb_2017]