Birmingham has signed a deal to develop closer links to the Chinese city of Nanjing.

Council leader Mike Whitby met Nanjing Mayor Luo Zhijun to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the two cities. The document will see the two cities work more closely to develop trade, cultural and educational links.

Mr Whitby, currently visiting Nanjing, Yangzhou and Shanghai, held talks with Jiangsu governor Liang Baohua and Nanjing Automotive Company (NAC) chairman Wang Haoliang about the future of the firm’s car building plans for Longbridge.

Mr Whitby said: "This new agreement will build upon the excellent links already established between Nanjing and Birmingham, based around car production at Longbridge.

"It will allow a flow of information, expertise and best practice between two like prosperous global cities, both at the forefront of technology and economics on the regional, national and international stage.

NAC chairman Wang Haoliang said: "Longbridge is an important part of our global strategy and we want to make it successful. NAC hopes that there will be many more joint projects between our two cities."