St. John's Mayor Dennis O'Keefe says his city will help Quebec City celebrate its 400th anniversary, but maintains that St. John's is the oldest settlement in Canada.

Bells will ring in St. John's, Canada's easternmost city and arguably the oldest city, in honour of Quebec City's 400th anniversary Thursday.

There has been a long-standing disagreement on which of the two cities is the oldest in Canada.

"We're proud to be a part of that birthday party, but keep in mind we're a lot older," joked St. John's Mayor Dennis O'Keefe.

The bells at two St. John's churches and city hall will chime at 12:30 p.m. All the ships in St. John's Harbour are also planning to sound their horns for 400 seconds in honour of the birthday.

O'Keefe told CBC News he may ask other Canadian cities to chime their bells, when St. John's turns 512 in 2009.

In January, the debate over which city was the nation's oldest began in earnest, after the Department of Canadian Heritage promoted Quebec City as having that title.

The claim annoyed the government of Newfoundland and Labrador.

"That claim is debatable, to say the least," Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation Clyde Jackman said in January. "St. John's has long been recognized by many historians as the oldest city in Canada, and we are very proud of this historical designation."

Historical records show Quebec City was founded in 1608, while there is evidence Europeans had already settled the port of St. John's in the 1500s.

Statistics Canada recognizes St. John's as Canada's oldest city.