Wuhan, San Francisco engaged in friendship

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Wuhan, San Francisco engaged in friendship

(Xinhua) 17:25, November 21, 2013

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Partnerships between cities translates to jobs and economic growth, visiting San Francisco mayor Edwin M. Lee said on Thursday when speaking about a friendship city agreement with Wuhan at an international summit.

The agreement was signed on Wednesday between mayors of Wuhan and San Francisco. The two cities have agreed to set up liaison offices to enable more exchanges and cooperation.

Speaking at the Wuhan International Friendship Cities Summit on Thursday, Lee said success comes from collaboration, interaction and bringing diverse backgrounds and skills together to meet a common vision and goal.

Dubbed Optical Valley, Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, is the country's photoelectron industry base.

Mayors and city officials from 30 cities in 22 countries and representatives from international non-governmental organizations attended the three-day summit, which will close on Friday.

Wu Min, executive director of Friendship City San Francisco, said China's policy of supporting development in central China prompted San Francisco's friendship city agreement with Wuhan. There is potential for cooperation in the areas of economic, trade, technology, cultural, education and tourism, Wu said.

In April, an air route linking San Francisco with Shanghai continued its service to Wuhan. This consolidates Wuhan's role as the country's fourth biggest air transport hub after Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

Lee, the first Asian-American mayor of San Francisco, said the air service further strengthens friendship ties.

"Whether it is being in public service, as mayors, as government employees or as educators, or in up and coming start-up companies, we must build around the notion of collaboration and the idea that success comes from sharing ideas, talents and goals," he said.

Lee said the two cities have a lot in common. Wuhan is a high-tech center boasting more than 1 million college students, while San Francisco with over 1,900 high-tech companies boasts strong technical power in electronic information and biomedicine industries.

（Editor：WangXin、Hongyu）