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OLD rivalries were put aside as Manchester and Liverpool pledged to work together for the good of the north west.
Watched over by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, the leaders of the two cities signed an agreement promising co-operation as well as competition.
Mr Prescott said at a conference at the Bridgewater Hall: ''Liverpool and Manchester have so much in common and so much to learn from one another.''
And he forecast that Manchester's experience with next year's Commonwealth Games will help Liverpool's bid to become the capital of culture in 2008.
The conference, attended by business representatives, politicians and community leaders, was exploring ways the two cities could co-operate following a study by Salford University's Centre for Sustainable Urban and Regional Futures.
Collaboration
It recommends more collaboration in finance and business services, cultural industries, tourism, transport, higher education and regeneration.
The agreement recognises that ''competition is healthy and natural,'' but agrees that ''there are many areas where the two cities can and should work together more actively for our mutual benefit and for the wider north west.''
It promises an increased flow of information, ideas, transactions and people.
City council leader Richard Leese said: ''Fundamentally, it is about jobs.
''Liverpool and Manchester are very deprived cities at the heart of an economically under performing region.
''There are a lot of advantages in doing things which are complementary rather than competitive.''
Liverpool city council leader Coun Mike Storey said: ''There are still major problems of deprivation and unemployment in the north west.
''Manchester and Liverpool, as engines of the economic drive, can stimulate growth in the whole region.''
Coun Mike Doyle, deputy chairman of the North West Development Agency, said: ''We believe if the two cities collaborate in key areas, playing to their respective strengths, there is even greater scope for the development of the cities for the benefit of the region as a whole.''
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