Shanghai and Vancouver strengthen sister city links

Shanghai Mayor Ying Yong met his Vancouver counterpart Gregor Robertson to sign a sister city letter of intent for cooperation last Friday.

Ying said China-Canada bilateral relations were among the most important for Shanghai in terms of international cooperation.

He said that, as sister cities, Shanghai and Vancouver should use the opportunity to strengthen existing cooperation. These included in ports, movie and television industry, cultural innovation sectors, trade, technology innovation and tourism.

As China’s biggest economic center, Shanghai is working hard to build and open its economy through its Free Trade Zone and technology and innovation Center, Ying said.

He invited Vancouver companies and international enterprises to help build the center and the FTZ. Shanghai will create a more equal, convenient, and efficient business environment for domestic and international enterprises, Ying added.

Robertson said Shanghai is a great city and it is good for China-Canada bilateral relations to have more friendly exchanges.

He hoped the two cities could learn from each other and promote investments and trade, and strengthen collaborations in cultural innovation, environment protection, energy resources, and smart city building.

The Canadian Consul General to Shanghai, Weldon Epp, also attended the meeting.