Gazeta.uz internet website reported that the ceremony of signing of agreement was held at Samarkand city administration, which was attended by the delegation of Italy and public of Samarkand.

At the event, Governor of Samarkand city Akbar Shukurov expressed hope that the agreement will promote establishing and strengthening of relations between Samarkand and Florence.

Governor Andrea Barducci said that relations of Florence and Samarkand are ideal connection between West and East. He said that both Florence and Samarkand are centers of global culture, art and science. He added that two cities are in crossroads of various cultures, uniting nations and helping to integration.

Currently, Samarkand has ten sister cities, including Liege (Belgium), Lyon (France), Lahore (Pakistan), Plovdiv (Bulgaria), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Banda Aceh (Indonesia), Lviv (Ukraine), Bremen (Germany), Krasnoyarsk and Samara (both Russia).