On July 17th, the 4th U.S.-China Sister Cities Mayors’ Summit, co-hosted by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and the Sister Cities International (SCI), was held in Houston, Texas, with the theme of “40 Years Ahead: Stronger Friendship, Closer Cooperation”. Mr. Xie Yuan, Vice President of CPAFFC, Mr. Li Qiangmin, Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Houston, Mr. Yin Chengwu, Minister-Counselor of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the United States, Mr. Liu Jianyang, Mayor of Nanchang Municipal People’s Government, Mr. Peng Daiyuan, Vice Mayor of Guilin Municipal People’s Government, Mr. Luo Shijian, Vice Mayor of Baise Municipal People’s Government, Mr. Yang Wumin, Vice Mayor of Weinan Municipal People’s Government, Mr. Ron Nirenberg, Mayor of San Antonio, Mr. Alix DeSulme, Vice Mayor of North Miami, Ms. Helene Schneider, Former Mayor of Santa Barbara, Mr. Anise Parker, Former Mayor of Houston, Mr. Christopher Olsen, Director of Trade and International Affairs of Houston and around 200 representatives of local governments, enterprises, educational institutions and other organizations from 21 cities of 16 Chinese provinces and municipalities, as well as 21 cities of 11 states from the United States attended the Summit and had discussions over topics such as innovation and smart cities, Maritime Silk Road and impact, metroplex collaborations and the future for economic growth, and sino-foreign educational cooperation and exchanges, so as to reinforce relations of friendship cities, and to promote pragmatic sub-national cooperation between the United States and China.
Vice President Xie Yuan delivered a speech on the opening ceremony of the Summit. He said, this year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States. For 40 years, although weathering wind and rain, China-U.S. relations have firmly forged ahead. Till now, China and the United States have built 227 pairs of friendship cities and 50 pairs of friendship provinces and states. The complementarity and concerted cooperation between the friendship cities have effectively promoted regional economic and social development and deepened the understanding and friendship between the people. In accordance with the principles and direction set by the two heads of state on the G20 Osaka Summit, we should strengthen cooperation in various fields and maintain engaged at different levels, so as to jointly advance a China-U.S. relationship based on coordination, cooperation and stability to bring more benefits to the two countries and people of the whole world.
Minister Counselor Yin Chengwu of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the United States read the congratulatory letter from Chinese Ambassador Cui Tiankai. In the letter, he said, over the past 40 years, the China-U.S. relations have achieved historic development through ups and downs, which has brought great benefits to the two peoples, and promoted peace, prosperity and stability of the world. The history has fully proved that China and America stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation. Cooperation and dialogue is better than friction and confrontation, and this is also the fundamental principle that will underlie the China-U.S. relations in the future.
Mayor Ron Nirenberg said that this year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the United States. The summit would review the remarkable achievements and development of the bilateral relations in the past 4 decades, in order to promote bilateral cooperation and foster common prosperity.
Director Christopher Olsen attended the Summit on behalf of the government of the City of Houston. In his speech, he said that with the increasingly closer relations between Houston and China in recent years, Houston attaches great importance to its relations with China. This Summit will surely further push forward the pragmatic cooperation between Houston and cities of China.
Mayor Liu Jianyang said in his speech that as the host city of last U.S.-China Sister Cities Mayors’ Summit, they sincerely hope that on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between the United States and China, cities of both countries can further strengthen exchanges and cooperation through this platform so as to create a better future.
Consul General Li Qiangmin said in the keynote speech that the sub-national exchanges between China and the United States, especially the friendship city cooperation, have always been a strong impetus for the development of bilateral relations and an important bond connecting people from different circles in the two countries. The Summit is the first important conference for bilateral sub-national cooperation after the meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump at the G20 Osaka Summit, and it plays a significant role in promoting the relations and pragmatic cooperation of friendship cities between China and the United States.
During the Summit, Shanghai held “Trans-Pacific Exchanges and Cooperation, Shanghai Commemorates the 40th Anniversary of China-US Diplomatic Relations” photo exhibition.
The U.S.-China Sister Cities Mayors' Summit is an important mechanism for exchanges of local government between the two countries. Since its founding in 2014, the Summit had been successfully held for three times, with a total of over 800 attendees, including officials of local governments and representatives from all walks of life from both countries. The Summit has served as a platform for promoting the development of U.S.-China friendship cities and reinforcing practical cooperation between sub-national governments of both sides.
Photographed by Xinhua News Agency
