The State of Maryland and Anhui Province of China have had a
sister state relationship since 1980. During the past 20 years,
Maryland and Anhui have maintained active exchanges and communications
with frequent visits of government, organizations and companies
from both sides. As the authorized trade representative office
of the Maryland State, Maryland Center has been committed to promote
this important and productive relationship and served as a bridge
in facilitating the efforts. In recent years, the high-level exchanges
have been enhanced and cooperation been further widened. One recent
example is our assistance in arranging the Suzhou City delegation
led by then Party secretary Mr. Wang Rong to Maryland, which has
proved successful in terms of mutual exchanges and introduction
of talents.
In addition to the sister state relationship with Anhui Province,
Baltimore, capital city of Maryland established the sister-city
relationship with Xia Men City in 1985.
21st September 2007,
Han Zheng, Mayor of Shanghai met with State of Maryland Governor
Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. and a delegation of state officials in the
VIP hall in the People's Building.
Mayor of Shanghai Mr. Xu Kuangdi and US President Bill Clinton
met with Harold L. Adams, Chairman of RTKL, in Shanghai in 1997
Government Ehrlich announced that Maryland would conduct all-round
cooperation with Shanghai for the preparation of Shanghai 2010
World Expo.
The Sister relationship between State
of Maryland and Anhui Province of China
The State of Maryland and Anhui Province of China have had a sister
state relationship since 1980. During the past 20 years, Maryland
and Anhui have maintained active exchanges and communications
with frequent visits of government, organizations and companies
from both sides.
Maryland-Anhui Sister State Milestones
2005 Director of Government Office's
Administration of Anhui Province, Mr. Zhang Xuetao, led an Anhui
Delegation to Maryland and met with the Secretary of State of
Maryland to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Maryland-Anhui Sister
State Relationship.
.
2005 Maryland Secretary of State,
Karl Aumann, led a China Mission Delegation to Anhui to celebrate
the 25th Anniversary of Maryland-Anhui State Relationship.
.
2004 Anhui Government Delegation
led by Chairman Wang Taihua visited the State of Maryland and
met with Governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.. Several Memorandums of
Understanding were signed for the purpose of further enhancing
the bilateral elationships between the sister states.
.
2003 Anhui Environmental Protection
Bureau Delegation met with the Maryland Department of Environment
in Maryland. AEPE and MDE signed a Memorandum of Understanding
to promote environmental cooperation and exchanges between the
two states.
.
2002 Anhui Ma'anshan Municipal
Government Delegation headed by Party Secretary Zheng Muming visited
Maryland.
.
2001 Secretary of Maryland Department
of Business and Economic Development, Mr. David Iannucci, led
a Maryland China Mission visited Anhui.
.
2000 Anhui Governor Xu Zhonglin
visited the State of Maryland for the 20th Anniversary of Maryland-Anhui
Sister State Relationship.
.
2000 Delegate Adrienne A. Mandel
on behalf of Maryland House of Delegates visited Anhui Province
and passed the letter from Governor Parris N. Glendening for the
20th Anniversary of the Maryland-Anhui Sister State Relationship.
.
1998 Anhui Investment Conference
was held in Shanghai with the coordination by Maryland Center.
Maryland companies in Shanghai were invited to take part in the
events.
.
1998 Secretary of Agriculture Henry
Virts led a Maryland Agricultural Delegation to Anhui Province
.
1998 Anhui Government Delegation
led by Vice Governor Lu Jiasheng visited Maryland and signed a
contract for Hughes Network System.
.
1997 Officials from Anhui Public
Health were sent to Maryland and received a six-month training
at Johns Hopkins University, School of Public Health.
.
1997 University of Baltimore awarded
USIA grant to train Chinese Lawyers on intellectual property law
.
1997 Executive Vice Governor Wang
Yang led Anhui Infrastructure Delegation to Maryland and met with
Governor Glendening.
.
1997 Maryland Trade Mission headed
by former Governor Harry Hughes and former DBED Secretary Jame
Brady visited Anhui.
.
1996 Anhui Delegation of Science
and Technology
Commission visited Maryland to explore cooperative opportunities
in hi-tech industries.
.
1995 Former Party Secretary of
Anhui Province, Mr. Lu Rongjing visited Maryland to celebrate
the 15th Anniversary of Maryland-Anhui Sister State Relationship.
.
1994 Maryland Trade and Business
Mission led by Mr. Mark Wasserman, former Secretary of Maryland
Department of Economic and Employment Development visited Anhui
Province.
.
1993 Anhui Governor Fuxishou led
a 33-member delegation visited Maryland and signed an agreement
of bilateral cooperation with Governor Schaefer.
.
1980 Maryland Governor Harry Hughes
visited Anhui and established the Sister State Relationship between
Maryland and Anhui.
The Sister relationship between Baltimore
City and Xiamen City
After setting up Sister City relationship between Xiamen
and Baltimore, up to 2007, more than 330 American projects invested
in Xiamen, the amount of contracted foreign investment reached
1.5 billion U.S. dollars, which ranked the forth of the source
of investment. There were over 60 US investment programs' total
investment beyond 5 million U.S. dollars, over 40 US investment
programs' total investment beyond 10 million U.S. dollars. Dell,
Kodak, Boeing and other famous enterprises invested programs in
Xiamen.
Baltimore-Xiamen Sister City Milestones
.
From October 31-November 3, 2009,
Baltimore will join the 2009 Xiamen International Boat Show.
.
In May, 2009, the 30th Anniversary
of China - U.S. Relations and Fujian - America Contact Review
Photo Exhibition held in Xiamen's Sister City - Baltimore of Maryland.
.
In April 25th 2009, deputy mayor
Pan Shijian met with the chairman of Baltimore - Xiamen Sister
City Committee, Mr. Fontaine Bell.
.
In April 24th 2009, the chairman
of Baltimore - Xiamen Sister City Committee, Mr. Fontaine Bell
visited Xiamen Shuangshi Middle School of Fujian. Xiamen Shuangshi
Middle School of Fujian and Baltimore Science and Technology Senior
High School set up "Sister School" relationship.
.
In 2009, on the invitation of Baltimore
City government, a six - person delegation of Xiamen artists participated
in Artscape of Baltimore.
The Baltimore-Xiamen Sister City Committee organized and led a
nine-person delegation of Baltimore business leaders to the 12th
annual CIFIT in Xiamen from September 8-11, 2008.
.
In September 2007, Baltimore delegation
attended The 11th China International Fair for Investment &
Trade (CIFIT) in Xiamen.
.
In July, 2007, on the invitation
of Xiamen's Sister City - America Baltimore City government, the
vice chairman of Xiamen Federation of Literary and Art Circles,
Chen Yuanlin led Xiamen Artist Delegation visiting Baltimore and
attended Baltimore's art festival. During the festival, famous
Xiamen artists Li Wenxuan, Chen Jinhua, and Zhang Ming showed
about 20 art works of Chinese Panting and Lacquer Painting, and
they created art works then and there. The unique art charm of
Chinese artists deeply attracted the Baltimore's audience.
.
In September 11th 2006, Xiamen's
Sister City - America Baltimore Delegation visited Xiamen University.
The delegation was made up of the chairman of the Baltimore Friendship
Committee, Fontaine Bell, the director of Baltimore's Foreign
Affairs Office, Elizabeth Weiblen, and the representative of Johns
Hopkins University, Zhang Lu.
In September 10th 2000, Baltimore delegation attended The 10th
China International Fair for Investment & Trade (CIFIT) in
Xiamen.
.
In May, 2006, vice chairman of
CPPCC, president of Xiamen Association for Friendship with Foreign
Countries, Wu Fengzhang led Xiamen delegation to Baltimore for
friendly visit.
.
In March, 2006, China Airport Construction
Group Corporation (South) Engineer Bureau, Chengdu Bayi Furniture
Co., Ltd and Baltimore's Bayi America Furniture Company signed
contract of building International Famous Furniture Exhibition
Center successfully.
.
From September 8-9, 2005, Baltimore
delegation attended The 9th China International Fair for Investment
& Trade (CIFIT) in Xiamen.
.
In October 25th 2004, Baltimore
attended the Fujian International Friendship Cities Conference
in Fuzhou. Relative forums, which gather at the theme of the conference
- "development and cooperation of friendship cities",
were held. Each Friendship City provided presentations about education
and trade cooperation. Furthermore, Friendship Cities Photo Exhibition
and wonderful performances were conducted.
.
In September 9th 2009, Baltimore
delegation attended The 8th China International Fair for Investment
& Trade (CIFIT) in Xiamen.
.
In 2004, Xiamen Maternity and Child
Health Care Hospital start to cooperate with the department of
gynecology and obstetrics of Baltimore's famous hospital - Johns
Hopkins Hospital.
.
In September 2003, Baltimore delegation
attended The 7th China International Fair for Investment &
Trade (CIFIT) in Xiamen.
.
In September 2002, Baltimore delegation
attended The 6th China.
International Fair for Investment
& Trade (CIFIT) in Xiamen.
.
In March 1st 2002, Xiamen Port
and Baltimore Port signed cooperation agreement.
.
In September 7th 2001, Baltimore
delegation attended The 5th China International Fair for Investment
& Trade (CIFIT) in Xiamen.
.
In April 9th 2001, member of CPC
Xiamen Standing Committee, deputy mayor, Chen Conghui met with
the chairman of the Baltimore-Xiamen Sister City Committee, Chinese
American, Mr. Yang Ziming who came to Xiamen for visit. Chen Conghui
represented Xiamen Municipal Government and all the citizens to
welcome Mr. Yang Ziming, and introduced the constructing and developing
situation of Xiamen and the preparation work of the 5th CIFIT.
.
In September 2000, Baltimore delegation
attended The 4th China International Fair for Investment &
Trade (CIFIT) in Xiamen.
.
In September 1999, Baltimore delegation
attended The 3rd China International Fair for Investment &
Trade (CIFIT) in Xiamen.
From July 19 - 22, 1999, Baltimore City Mayor Kurt Schmoke and
his wife with another 13 people visited Xiamen. Two Cities' mayors
signed "Xiamen - Baltimore Sister City Medical Cooperation
Intention Letter".
.
In September 1998, Baltimore delegation
attended The 2nd China International Fair for Investment &
Trade (CIFIT) in Xiamen.
.
In September 2009, Xiamen's Sister
City - Baltimore delegation attended The First China International
Fair for Investment & Trade (CIFIT), which held by Ministry
of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, Fujian Provincial People's
Government and Xiamen Municipal Government.
.
From September 22 - 25, 1993, after
attending the "Chinese Commodities Fair" in L.A., America,
Xiamen trade delegation, which led by deputy mayor Wang Rong,
visited Baltimore, and conduct a briefing session about Xiamen.
.
From July 13 - August 18, 1991,
the 4th Xiamen - Baltimore Summer Vacation English Teacher Training
Course held in Xiamen. Meanwhile, the first Baltimore High School
Student Language Summer Camp held, too. This program was subsidized
by Baltimore Abell Foundation.
.
From September 6-10, 1988, Xiamen's
Sister City - Baltimore's delegation attended the Xiamen International
Sister City Art Festival.
.
In June 28th 1988, Xiamen trade
delegation led by deputy mayor Jiang Ping visited Baltimore when
visiting America. Deputy mayor Jiang Ping Discussed with Baltimore
mayor and invited him visiting Xiamen.
.
In October 14th 1987, Baltimore-Xiamen
Sister City won the "Best Integration" prize, which
awarded by Sister Cities International and Reader's Digest Foundation.
This prize recognized Baltimore and Xiamen's contributions to
promote international understanding and world peace.
.
In June 1986, Xiamen Mayor Zou
Erjun reciprocated with a visit to Baltimore. He implemented the
Sister City communication programs and signed MOU.
.
In November 7th 1985, A Delegation
of civic, business and cultural leaders led by Baltimore Mayor,
William Donald Schaefer, traveled to Xiamen, China to establish
a Sister City relationship.
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