The Lord Mayor of York, Coun Janet Looker, hosted a special drinks reception at the Mansion House for a delegation of Chinese dignitaries from Chongqing - the world's largest city - and then the group was invited for a Chinese meal.

The ten delegates, who left York last night, arrived as part of a promotion of the UK's strength in urban regeneration and conservation of local architecture, as well as strengthening the links between Chinese and British local urban planners, business people and construction experts.

Paul Shepherd, former president of the Chartered Institute of Builders, who accompanied them, said: "I invited them to Maxis on the Poppleton estate, knowing that after three days of Occidental food they would need their Chinese "fix".

The Mayor and Sheriff asked if they could come too. We all enjoyed it."

Updated: 10:39 Friday, September 10, 2004