Officials from two counties and two countries signed an agreement Tuesday to further friendship between Moore County and Guidong County in China's Hunan Province.

The two counties -- a world apart on the globe -- were bound together by history when enemy fire shot down a Flying Tiger pilot from High Falls during World War II. Now they are sister counties, formally allied in a treaty of friendship.

Lt. Robert Hoyle Upchurch lost his life fighting Japanese invaders of China, and Guidong villagers buried him with high honors as a hero -- though at the time they did not even know his name. Every year for 63 years they brought flowers to the mountainside area where their unknown "American Pilot" had been laid to rest.

When DNA identified Upchurch and his remains were returned to the family plot, Guidong's mayor proposed this friendship agreement.

A delegation led by state Sen. Harris Blake and two of Upchurch's nephews visited Guidong last year and took part in dedicating a monument honoring him. At the time, leaders signed letters of intent to bind that county and Moore as sister counties and Hunan Province with North Carolina as sister states.

Robbins -- the nearest municipality to High Falls -- became a sister city to Zhaqian Town in Guidong County.

Moore County Manager Cary McSwain and Vice Mayor Shaoziong Yuan for Guidong County, signed the agreement on behalf of their two counties at a breakfast meeting in the Carolina Hotel in Pinehurst.

The pact recognized the people and nation of China "for thousands of years an integral part of the world's culture, philosophy, and economy" as well as the "long-standing relationship between the People's Republic of China and the United States of America."

The agreement pays respect to America's history of support for those fighting foreign invaders and to Upchurch particularly for "fighting to protect the Chinese people and Chinese homeland during World War II."

The agreement thanks the people of Guidong County, Hunan Province, for "tending the burial place of Lt. Upchurch and preserving the memory of his sacrifice" and for their establishing the permanent memorial to him at his original grave site.

"In order to respect and further the friendship and trust which has developed between our communities as a result of this heroic sacrifice and the selfless generosity of the people of Guidong County, Hunan Province," the document says, "the representatives of Moore County, North Carolina, United States of America, and the representatives of Guidong County, Hunan Province, People's Republic of China, enter into this agreement of friendship, mutual respect, and deep understanding."

Its purposes are fourfold:

Economic exchange -- to seek out ways to bring their business communities together in mutually beneficial ways.

Educational exchange -- to discover learning opportunities for students and citizens of all ages.

Social exchange -- to share innovative solutions to social issues facing all of the communities.

Cultural exchange -- to discover a deeper appreciation for each other's respective traditions and heritage.

Xiange Liu is a district official in Chanzhou, capital city of the district of Hunan that includes Guidong. She spoke to Blake and local leaders about the significance of this agreement, and her hopes for what it may bring.

"Today, upon your invitation, we came to Moore County to sign the agreement between Moore and Guidong to further our friendship," Liu said, her crisply spoken words ringing out in the hall followed by translation into English by Leon Zhang, a member of last year's delegation to China. "This will produce a strong people between both our counties. We believe, through our joint efforts, we will further the relationship between us through cooperation and create a beautiful tomorrow.

"Finally, I sincerely wish the great success of friendship and cooperation between our two counties. May the friendship between Guidong and Moore last forever. Thanks, everyone."

In accordance with ancient Chinese custom, gifts were exchanged between the visitors and their host dignitaries from towns and agencies in Moore County. Potter Ben Owen III -- himself a member of last year's delegation to the memorial -- gave them pottery vessels wrought from clay dug below the High Falls grave site and fired with his family's Chinese Red glaze.

The visitors brought silks and embroidery from China, which they gave to the representatives of Moore County and North Carolina.

Following the signing of multiple copies of the agreement in two versions and two languages -- Mandarin Chinese and English -- the Guidong delegation accompanied Blake to Harnett County for a lunch there.

Stuart Schulte, of Pinehurst, and his wife Hong -- who returned after living many years in China -- accompanied the visitors to serve as translators along with Dr. Lian Xie of N.C. State who is also president of the N.C. China Center.

Xie and Blake have been working together to assist the two counties in developing their relationship and with state and Hunan Province officials to finalize the sister state relationship between Hunan and North Carolina.

In the afternoon, the delegation returned to Moore County. They visited briefly at Robbins Town Hall where an ornamental scroll attests the sister city bond with Zhaqian Town and then traveled to High Falls United Methodist Church.

There they met with members of the Upchurch family and viewed the pottery vessels containing the mixed earth of the two counties and paid their respects at the final resting place of their Flying Tiger.

Upchurch lies buried next to his mother and father, the family stone now bearing the added words, "Home at Last."

Contact John Chappell at 783-5841 or by e-mail at jchappell@thepilot.com.