FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 16, 2014) Sister Cities International’s 2014 U.S.-China Sister Cities Conference was recognized as 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 Sixth Round of the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue where they discussed major bilateral, regional, and global issues.

Sister Cities International hosted the 2014 U.S.-China Sister Cities Conference in Washington, DC  jointly with their partners, the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC). At the Conference, more than 400 community leaders, citizen diplomats, business executives, educators, mayors, provincial leaders, and municipal officials from the U.S. and China discussed strategies to grow and strengthen exchanges and business ties at the sub-national level. In a press statement, the U.S. Department of State welcomed the enhancements of sub-national relations and stated:

“The Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and Sister Cities International (SCI) co-hosted the U.S.-China Sister Cities Conference in Washington, D.C., March 26-27, 2014. Thirty-four pairs of sister cities and provinces/states and four outstanding individuals were recognized at the conference. The conference encouraged and explored ways to strengthen economic, cultural, and educational cooperation, and promoted youth exchanges between the sister cities and provinces/states of China and the United States.”

In 2013, as part of the Fifth Round of the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue Outcomes on the issue of sub-national relationships, the Memorandum of Understanding between Sister Cities international and the CPAFFC was recognized. The MoU was signed at the China International Friendship Cities Conference in September 2012. The Outcomes also recognized the then upcoming U.S.-China Sister Cities Conference.

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 and working closely with CPAFFC. For more information about the 2014 U.S.-China Sister Cities Conference, CLICK HERE.  

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About Sister Cities International

Founded by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956, Sister Cities International serves as the national membership organization for over 500 individual sister cities, counties, and states across the United States with relationships in 2,000 communities in 140 countries. This sister city network unites tens of thousands of citizen diplomats and volunteers who work tirelessly to promote peace and understanding through programs and projects focusing on arts and culture, youth and education, economic and sustainable development, and humanitarian assistance.

Facebook: Sister Cities International; Twitter: @SisterCitieslnt; Website: www.sistercities.org

MEDIA CONTACT
Megha Swamy
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202-347-8637

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