To promote cultural and commercial ties, encourage tourism, develop educational tie-ups, exchange technology and cooperate in a host of other spheres, Agra Municipal Corporation (AMC) signed a sister city agreement with Chengdu city of China on Thursday. A delegation from the neighbouring country visited Agra Municipal Corporation office on Thursday afternoon for the purpose.

Beijing sees sporting prowess as a key soft power weapon and sensitivities over China’s performance at Rio 2016 led Chinese television censors to briefly stymie the BBC World broadcast about the plight of China’s gymnasts. The screen went black, as routinely occurs during stories considered politically inconvenient to the Communist Party.