Sister Cities International is honored to be a part of this year’s U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue outcomes. This past week, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi chaired the Fifth Round of the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue where they discussed major bilateral, regional, and global issues.
As part of the specific outcomes on the issue of sub-national relationships, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Sister Cities international and the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries was recognized. The MoU was signed at the China International Friendship Cities Conference in September 2012. The press release from the U.S. Department of State states:
“This MOU formalized the ongoing partnership to collaborate to create new sister-city and sister-state/province relationships between U.S. and Chinese communities to promote mutual understanding and prosperity in their respective communities. SCI and CPAFFC are working together to plan the U.S.-China Sister Cities Conference in 2014 in the United States.”
Sister Cities International welcomes the two countries’ recommitment to deepening strategic trust and expanding practical cooperation. There are currently over 200 U.S.-China sister city relationships and they are the fastest growing number of partnerships in the Sister Cities International network. Sister Cities International looks forward to continuing to strengthen and grow sub-national exchanges and partnerships between the two countries while working closely with the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.