Dongguan, China

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CITY COUNCIL CITY OF MILLBRAE AGENDA REPORT 621 Magnolia Avenue 0 MiIIbrae, CA 94030

SUBJECT: Report No. ^ 3 7 2? Adoption of Resolutions to Form Friendship City Relationships with the City of Hengyang and the City of For Agenda of: October 22, 2019 Dongguan in China Department: Administration ATTACHMENTS: Originator: A^e^Louis (1) Friendship City with Hengyang Resolution (2) Friendship City with Dongguan Resolution Approve

~\^€y Budget Action Yes: No: X Finance Review: N/A

REPORT TYPE: ACTION X INFORMATIONAL

ITEM TYPE: CONSENT^ PUBLIC HEARING EXISTmG BUSINESS NEW BUSINESS

RECOMMENDATION:

Consider adoption of Resolutions to extend invitations to the government and the people of Hengyang and Dongguan, China to participate in a Friendship City relationship with the City of Millbrae and its people, and authorize the Mayor to act as the official representative to implement our developing Friendship City Relationship with Hengyang and Dongguan, China.

BACKGROUND:

The City of Millbrae has established formal Sister City Relationships with La Serena, Chile; Mosta, Malta, and Friendship City relationships Kaiping, China; Taishan, China; Suizhou, China; and Hanyu, Japan. Over the years, members of the Millbrae community have approached the City Council and the Sister Cities Commission expressing their interest to expand the Sister City or Friendship City relationships with Cities in China.

The purpose of pursuing and maintaining these relationships is to further cultural, economic, and local governmental relations. The City of Millbrae has an opportunity to develop an additional Friendship City relationship with Hengyang and Dongguan, China.

Hengyang is the second-largest city in Hunan province with an area of 5,899 square miles and a population of 7,141,162. Hengyang is a busy industrial city and an important transportation hub in southern China. The city is historically renowned as the 'Bright Pearl in Southern China' for its location between the Xiangjiang River and Mount Heng (one of the Five Sacred Mountains). Hengyang is also known as 'Wild Goose City' because flocks of wild geese are known to rest here during winter migrations south. To this day, few historical buildings that survived World War II, including the Shigu Academy, Dragon Tower, Confucian School, and Laiyan Pagoda are still popular tourist sites.

Dongguan City is an important industrial and manufacturing city located in central Guangdong Province, which is one of China's most prosperous provinces. The City's geographic location made it Page 1 of 2 ideal for export and foreign investments with annual export volume of $65.54 billion in shipments that only ranks behind Shenzhen, Shanghai and Suzhou among Chinese cities. Forbes China has ranked Dongugan as the 13th most innovative mainland cities and 18th in Foreign Policy listing of the most dynamic cities in the world. Dongguan is home to 7,506,300 residents in 952 square miles. The city's history can be traced back to the Neolithic Age and the famous Incineration of Opium during the Opium War took place in Humen Town of Dongguan City. Tourist destinations in the city includes Keyuan Garden, Hermit Villa, Guan Yin Shan Temple, Humen Bridge, Humen Naval Battles Museum, Opium War Museum, and Yinxian Resort.

ANALYSIS:

Sister City International does not have a formal protocol on how a Friendship City is formed or specific documents that need to be signed by the two Cities; usually a proclamation or resolution is signed. The "Next Step" in forming a Friendship City relationship varies from one Friendship City to another. Typically, the respective mayors act as the official representatives for each city in developing the Friendship City relationship. The Mayors of Hengyang and Dongguan People's Government have expressed interest in visiting Millbrae. The Mayor of Millbrae or his/her designee may wish to arrange for a delegation to visit the Cities of Hengyang and Dongguan, China, at the sole expense of the participants.

The Mayor would act as the official representative to carry out developing a Friendship City Relationship with Hengyang and Dongguan, China and further collaborate these efforts in conjunction with the Sisters Cities Commission.

FISCAL IMPACT:

There is no fiscal impact associated with adoption of the subject resolution and formation of the friendship city relationship. Other costs that may arise in implementing and strengthening relationships will be considered under a separate and future action.

COUNCIL ACTION:

Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution to establish Friendship City relationship with Hengyang and Dongguan, China and authorize the Mayor to act as the official representative to implement our developing the Friendship City Relationship with Hengyang and Dongguan, China.

Page 2 of 2 CITY OF MILLBRAE, COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

STATE OF CALIFORNIA

*** RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MILLBRAE ESTABLISHING THE CITY OF HENGYANG, THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA, AS A FRIENDSHIP CITY

WHEREAS, Sister City International was established to be a diplomacy network that creates and strengthens partnerships between the United States and international communities to increase global cooperation at the local level; and

WHEREAS, Sister City and Friendship City relationships aim to increase global cooperation through long term mutually beneficial partnerships at the local level; and

WHEREAS, Sister City and Friendship City relationships work to motivate and empower private citizens, municipal officials and business leaders to the advantages of being internationally engaged; and

WHEREAS, the Millbrae Sister Cities Commission has implemented a successful Sister City program by developing Sister City Relationships with La Serena, Chile; Mosta, Malta; and

WHEREAS, the City of Millbrae has implemented a Friendship City program with Kaiping, China; Taishan, China; Suizhou, China; and Hanyu, Japan; and

WHEREAS, The City of Millbrae desires to continue to reach out in friendship, admiration and knowledge, globally, and develop a relationship with another city in China, specifically Hengyang; and

WHEREAS, The City of Millbrae does recognize and endorse the Friendship City program with the hope of strengthening the bonds of friendship between the United States and The People's Republic of China, and thus join in helping build the road to world peace.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City ofMillbrae that the City of Millbrae and its people extend an invitation to the government and people of Hengyang, China, to participate with Millbrae as a Friendship City and;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the City Council does hereby proclaim that the people of Millbrae and its City government send the people and the Hengyang People's Government greetings as we join hands in cultivating respect and admiration for each other through various cultural, educational and business exchanges; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the Mayor or his/her designee is hereby authorized to act as an official representative of the City of Millbrae, San Mateo County, California, USA to carry out developing the Friendship City relationship with Hengyang, China.

REGULARLY passed and adopted this 22nd day of October 2019.

MAYOR

ATTEST:

CITY CLERK CITY OF MILLBRAE, COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

STATE OF CALIFORNIA

*** RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MILLBRAE ESTABLISHING THE CITY OF DONGGUAN, THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA, AS A FRIENDSHIP CITY

WHEREAS, Sister City and Friendship City relationships aim to increase global cooperation through long term mutually beneficial partnerships at the local level; and

WHEREAS, Sister City and Friendship City relationships work to motivate and empower private citizens, municipal officials and business leaders to the advantages of being internationally engaged; and

WHEREAS, the Millbrae Sister Cities Commission has implemented a successful Sister City program by developing Sister City Relationships with La Serena, Chile; Mosta, Malta; and

WHEREAS, the City of Millbrae has implemented a Friendship City program with Kaiping, China; Taishan, China; Suizhou, China; and Hanyu, Japan; and

WHEREAS, The City of Millbrae desires to continue to reach out in friendship, admiration and knowledge, globally, and develop a relationship with another city in China, specifically Dongguan; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City ofMillbrae that the City of Millbrae and its people extend an invitation to the government and people of Dongguan, China, to participate with Millbrae as a Friendship City and;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the City Council does hereby proclaim that the people of Millbrae and its City government send the people and the Dongguan People's Government greetings as we join hands in cultivating respect and admiration for each other through various cultural, educational and business exchanges; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the Mayor or his/lier designee is hereby authorized to act as an official representative of the City of Millbrae, San Mateo County, California, USA to carry out developing the Friendship City relationship with Dongguan, China.

REGULARLY passed and adopted this 22nd day of October 2019.

MAYOR

ATTEST:

CITY CLERK