The council's relative independence of the government means it can negotiate its own agreements.市政会相对独立于政府，意味着它可以自主谈判签订协议。The partners held several meetings preparatory to signing the agreement.合伙人在签订协议之前举行了几次预备性会议。An agreement to end the war seemed within their grasp.签订协议结束战争似乎在他们的掌握之中。