China and the United States on Friday signed a groundbreaking document that will increase athlete and coaching exchanges and anti-doping cooperation between the nations in the run-up to the 2008 Beijing Games.

The three-page agreement was signed by U.S. Olympic Committee Chair Peter Ueberroth and Liu Peng, president of the Chinese Olympic Committee, at the United States Olympic Committee's international office about 30 miles southwest of Los Angeles.

"We are honored today to have the minister here to sign with us an accord between two cities, our two Olympic teams and our athletes. There is nothing better to make friends between nations than their athletes," Ueberroth said just before signing the documents.

Among other things, the agreement requires that each country receive at least one high-level sports delegation every two years and calls for greater cooperation in the fight against doping.

The agreement could also mean that the U.S. Olympic Committee will help China with its marketing plan for the 2008 Games, both men said.

Page:

1

2