Building Friendships Goal of Sister City Tour of China
16 August 2007
When a delegation of community leaders from the Sister City Committee from Richmond visited four cities in China last month, they did so in hopes of developing new friendships. As part of Richmond’s Sister City Program, from July 4 to 13 the delegation visited the cities of Qingdao, Yantai, Xiamen and Yangzhou.
“This trip was a great opportunity to gather additional information to consider developing friendly co-operative relationships in China,” explains Mayor Malcolm Brodie. “With the City of Richmond’s ties to China through our population, it is important that we continue to build personal and business ties with communities in China.”
“Whatever relationships you can create and build up in a positive manner, will benefit Richmond’s overall economy,” says Sylvia Gwozd, Chair of the Sister City Committee. “Opportunities for our future comes from people knowing people. This is why it is important to develop and maintain friendship relationships with other communities.”
Having now visited the four cities, the delegation is a preparing a report for Council with its recommendations for developing friendship city relationships. The report will be delivered to Council in September, and Council will decide how to proceed.
The Sister City friendship program is aimed at enhancing friendships and mutual understanding, fostering cultural exchanges, promoting student and athletic exchanges and encouraging trade and other economic linkages.
Richmond currently has Sister City relationships with Pierrefonds, Quebec and Wakayama, Japan.
