2014 Annual Meeting Dec 3 2014

The Portland-Suzhou Sister City Association held the 2014 Annual Meeting to celebrate our accomplishments during the year. We greeted new and old friends, thanked our sponsors and supporters, and elected our 2015 Board and Officers.

To add to the festivities of the evening and our understanding of Suzhou and China, the video “Beautiful Suzhou” by the Suzhou Information Office was shown, a short China travelogue was present by our Board member, Jim Mockford, and a wonderful around-the-world trip was briefly highlighted by our Past-President and long time Board member, Jim Mei.

Our President, Cathy Chinn, welcome our guests, reviewed 2014's accomplishments and handed out appreciations certificates.  A 10-course Chinese dinner was served and enjoyed by everyone.

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Suzhou Delegation Visit to Portland Fall 2014

In October 2014, we extended Portland’s warmest welcome to a very high level delegation from our Sister City Suzhou. The delegation members included: Mr. Zhou, Yulong - Vice Director of Suzhou People’s Congress. Head of delegation. In charge of Agriculture, Economy & Industry for Suzhou.

Mr. Wang, Genwei - Director of Suzhou Education, Science, Culture and Public Health Working Committee, Suzhou People’s Congress

Mr. Zhao, Dexing - Section Chief of Suzhou Culture, Broadcasting, News and Publication Bureau

Mr. Chen, Weijun - Section Chief of Suzhou Reform and Development Commission, & Director of Suzhou Municipal Government to Beijing Liaison Office

Ms. Dorathy Lu - Advisor in Suzhou Foreign Affairs Office

The highlights of their visit included an official meeting with Mayor Charlie Hales in Portland City Hall, a presentation on Portland's "We Build Green Cities" initiatives by Michael Gurton of the Portland Development Commission, and a banquet hosted by the Portland-Suzhou Sister City Association at the University Club.

The delegation also was very warmly welcomed at Nike Campus with a presentation and a walking tour of the campus. They were also able to take in other highlights in Portland and Oregon area.

Their visit was very productive and they expressed interests in the "We Build Green Cities" program and invited the Portland Development Commission for follow-up visits to Suzhou. Our organization helped to make arrangements for the Portland Development Commission's China trip to Suzhou in June 2015.

Sister Cities International Award, 2014

WASHINGTON, DC March 2014 –Suzhou and Portland, USA has jointly received a US-China Sister Cities Award in the “Economy and Trade” category.

The two cities, along with other award winners, were honored at a special Awards Ceremony on March 27th the Sister Cities International US-China Conference in Washington DC. A delegation from both Portland and Suzhou were in attendance to accept the award. Representing Portland were Martha Pellegrino, Director of Government Affairs; Michael Gurton, Portland Development Commission; Cathy Chinn, PSSCA President; Robert Fraser, PSSCA Immediate Past President and Lynne McIntyre, PSSCA Past President. Representing Suzhou were Mr. Xu Ming, Vice Mayor; Mr. Xu Huadong, Director of Suzhou Foreign Affairs Office and Ms. Dorathy Lu, Suzhou Foreign Affairs Office.

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The awards granted by Sister Cities International, recognize the accomplishments of outstanding US-China sister city programs and their contribution in building strong people to people ties between the two countries.

There are awards in several categories including Best Overall, Longest Relationship. Community Involvement, Youth, Arts and Culture, Economic Development and Trade, Most Innovative and Outstanding Individuals.

Suzhou and Portland established sister cities in 1988. The two cities have cooperated in economy, culture, education and grassroots exchanges ever since.

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Companies from Portland have successfully expanded their companies in Suzhou. Among them is Nike, Inc. which opened a shoe manufacturing plant in Suzhou in 1996 and has based its largest distribution center in Suzhou’s county level city of Taicang in 2011.

The award recognizes the two cities for outstanding achievements in trade and economic exchange. Suzhou is the only city in China to have won in this category. (Both Suzhou Daily and PSSCA contributed to this story.)

Mayoral Delegation Visit to Suzhou, 2013

SUZHOU, CHINA October 2013 The Suzhou Foreign Affairs Office hosted the Portland Mayoral Delegation Visit of 20 participants representing education, culture and trade in Suzhou October 26 to 30.

Visits were arranged with the Port of Taicang, Mayor of Taicang, the Nike Distribution Center, Shanghai/Suzhou American Chamber of Commerce, the Suzhou Singapore Industrial Park, Mayor and Vice Mayor of Suzhou, the China Energy and Environmental Protection Agency, the Suzhou Municipal Education Bureau, the Suzhou Garden Development Company and Suzhou Design Institute Company, the Suzhou Daily Group, the Suzhou Foreign Affairs Office and a performance of Romeo and Juliet by the Suzhou Ballet Theatre.

The Suzhou Daily Group hosted PSSCA’s 25^th Anniversary Trails of Bliss poetry and photography exhibit at the wonderful Tongli International Cultural Exchange Center.