On April, 18, 1995,Tianjin and Rio de Janeiro became sister cities.
Rio de Janeiro is the second largest city of Brazil and South America, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America. It is the state capital of Rio de Janeiro. The city was the capital of Brazil for nearly two centuries,and is also the former capital of the Portuguese Empire. It covers an area of 43,696.1km², with a population of 15,561,720 £¨2006£©. Rio de Janeiro is famous for its natural settings, its carnival celebrations, samba and other music, and hotel-lined tourist beaches. The city also boasts the largest and second largest urban forests in the world.
Rio de Janeiro became an attractive place for companies to locate when it was the capital of Brazil. The city was chosen as headquarters for state-owned companies such as Petrobras, Eletrobr¨¢s, Caixa Econômica Federal and Vale do Rio Doce (which was privatized in the 1990s). After the transfer of the capital to Bras¨ªlia, it kept attracting more companies, especially after the discovery of oil in the Campos Basin, which produces most of the total oil production of Brazil. This made many oil and gas companies to be based in Rio de Janeiro, such as the Brazilian branches of Shell, EBX and Esso. The headquarters of BNDES, an important state institution, is also in Rio de Janeiro. The city is also the headquarters of large telecom companies, such as Intelig, Oi and Embratel. Big multi-national companies such as Coca-Cola, IBM and El Paso also have offices in the city.
Rio ranks second nationally in industrial production and second financial and service center. The city's industries produce processed foods, chemicals, petroleum products, pharmaceuticals, metal products, ships, textiles, clothing, and furniture. Tourism and entertainment are other key aspects of the city's economic life and the city is the nation's top tourist attraction for both Brazilians and foreigners.
In Rio de Janeiro, buses are the main means of mass transportation. It has two subway lines and the oldest operating electric tramway, as well as five airports.
Rio de Janeiro is the cultural capital of Brazil. There are more than 50 museums, with collections that help to relate Brazil's 500 year history.
