On May 25, CPAFFC Vice President Hu Sishe met with U.S. Diplomatic Trade Mission and witnessed the signing of M.O.U. between the city of Tustin, U.S. and the city of Heyuan, China.

U.S. Diplomatic Trade Mission was organized by US-Sino Friendship Association, which already sent two mayors’ delegations to visit China in 2012 and 2014. This year’s delegation includes mayors from well-known U.S. Cities such as Las Vegas, Yorba Linda, Beverly Hills, Malibu, Santa Monica and Tustin. They plan to promote comprehensive cooperation between their cities and Chinese cities. During this visit, six pairs of cities from both sides will sign M.O.U. on the development of sister city relationship.

Vice President Hu Sishe said in his remarks that China-US relationship is the most important bilateral relationship in the world. The building of a new model of major-country relationship between the two countries will not be realized without the close cooperation from cities and people of both sides. The CPAFFC and China International Friendship Cities Association are coordinating 2171 pairs of sister city (province) relationship with other countries, among which 1/9 come from China and the U.S. This shows to us the depth and width of China-US sub-national exchanges. He encouraged cities from both sides to enhance common development and people-to-people friendship. He also welcomed U.S. mayors to attend the China-U.S. Sister Cities Conference to be held in Chicago from Oct. 22 to 24 this year.

Vice Mayor Zhu Weiwei from Heyuan said that Heyuan is a vibrant and green city, which enjoys rapid development in high-tech industries, solar energy, new metal materials and bio-pharmaceutical industries. It has much in common with the city of Tustin in ecology and development theories. She hoped that Heyuan and Tustin enhance their cooperation ties in economy and trade, tourism, education and other fields, in order to promote common development in each other’s economy and society, as well as the friendship between Guangdong, California and the two countries.

President Simon Pang of U.S.-Sino Friendship Association presented Vice President Hu Sishe the congratulatory letters from U.S. Congresspeople Mike Honda, Judy Chu and Ted Lieu, to the CPAFFC, in recognition of its contribution to China-US exchanges, cooperation and friendship. He also handed the certificates of recognition from Mayor Garcetti of Los Angeles and California State Treasurer John Chiang, which honor Madam Li Xiaolin’s contribution to enhancing ties between China and California, and China-U.S. relations.

Mayor Charles Puckett of Tustin said that he was excited to sign the M.O.U with city of Heyuan, and was looking forward to strengthening cooperation with the city.