The city of Ya'an in southwest China's Sichuan Province and Lhasa, capital of Tibet Autonomous Region, will cooperate in ten areas including agriculture, tourism, cultural exchanges and human resources flow, according to a framework agreement signed Friday.

"The partnership marks a new phase for the exchanges between the two cities," said Lan Kaichi, Party secretary of Ya'an.

Lan said the city will serve the construction of the logistics channel connecting Tibet, and establish a Sichuan-Tibet logistics center.

The Tea Horse Road once played important roles in trading goods. Tea used to be transported from Ya'an to Lhasa via Kangding, a city in Sichuan, along the road.

With the construction of Sichuan-Tibet Railway and Sichuan-Tibet highway, Sichuan and Tibet have enjoyed much closer ties.