The Municipality of Chatham-Kent and the Chinese City of Changchun on Friday December 12 agreed on a plan promoting economic, educational and cultural exchanges between the two communities.
Chatham-Kent Mayor Randy Hope and Zhang Xiaohua, Vice Chair of the Changchun Municipal Committee, signed the agreement Friday afternoon in a ceremony held at the Chatham-Kent Civic Centre.
Changchun is the capital and largest city of Jilin province in the northeast of the People’s Republic of China. It administers an area with a population of 7,677,089 and the main urban area, including five districts and four development areas, has a population of 3,908,048. The city’s leading industries are production of automobiles, agricultural product processing, biopharmaceuticals, photo electronics, construction materials, and the energy industry.
In the one-year agreement signed today, Chatham-Kent and Changchun have agreed on the following:
– The two municipalities give high priorities to each other in offering the latest information in economy and trade
– Changchun officially invites the Mayor of Chatham-Kent and an economy and trade delegation to visit Changchun in 2015 and to attend several economic exhibitions
– Each municipality will recommend a school for mutual exchanges based on faculty, student and academic activities
– The two municipalities extend cooperation in culture, including exchange visits of artists and performing tours, and exhibitions on culture and art
– Changchun officially invites ceramists and sculptors from Chatham-Kent to attend the China Changchun International Ceramics Symposium and China Changchun International Sculpture Symposium
– Changchun officially invites athletes of Chatham-Kent to join the Half Marathon for International Friendly Cooperate Cities of Changchun 2015
– The two municipalities shall continue official visits
– Relevant departments of the two municipalities shall maintain frequent contact for bilateral exchanges and issues of common concern
“Government plays a vital and very involved role in business affairs in China,” said the Municipality of Chatham-Kent’s Director of Economic Services Michael Burton.
“For example, government approval is required prior to any investment abroad by Chinese companies. Our relationship with communities and government officials such as those visiting from Changchun is important from the perspective that they will become familiar with Chatham-Kent and understand the benefits available to Chinese companies that invest in our community.”
