Speech by Nancy Huppert,Honorary Board Member of Sister Cities International of

On behalf of Sister Cities International I would like to say that it is an honour to be here today at the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) conference.I want to first of all thank Mr. Chen Haosu, president of the CPAFFC, Madame Li Xi lin, the vice chair of the CPAFFC, Mayor Guo Jinlong, mayor of Beijing and all the delegates and honoured guests of the CPAFFC. Thank you.

As most of you are aware, Sister Cities International’s mission is to “promote peace through mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation―one individual, one community at a time.” Our work is a critical component that helps our society to focus on fostering partnerships through sustainable development, arts and culture, youth and education, and humanitarian assistance.

Born from an initial idea at a White House Conference by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, for more than a half century, Sister Cities International has worked to foster citizen to citizen partnerships with individuals from the United States and the international community. This network has grown to more than 700 U.S. cities partnered with more than 2,500 international cities all around the world. U.S. Sister Cities International stretches across 6 continents in 134 countries.

In 1979 the very first citizen partnerships were formed between the United States and People’s Republic of China, San Francisco and Shanghai, China formed the first “friendship city.”

Today, Sister Cities International represents 184 partnerships between American communities and communities in China. Over the past thirty years, these longstanding relationships have helped to promote economic and business development, cultural and professional exchanges, humanitarian assistance and promoted good will between the people of the United States and China.

For example, Washington, D.C. and Beijing have had a 20-year relationship, strengthening friendly ties and promoting US-China relations. Chicago and Shanghai established their Sister Cities relationship in 1985. Both cities have hosted numerous exchanges for youth, artists, poets, journalists, and government committees.

Following the devastating earthquake on May 12, 2008, members of Phoenix Sister Cities led an important role hours after the news of the earthquake surfaced. Phoenix made contact through email with all of its members as well as with the entire Sister Cities International community in the U.S.Phoenix set up an Earthquake Fund where donations could be sent and within a week, more than $20,000 USD was generated. To date, well over $120,000USD has been raised specifically for this cause.

Sister City programmes are truly amazing and can take many different shapes and sizes. Whether the exchange is through arts and culture, humanitarian efforts or through business to business trade missions, these citizen exchanges are a powerful way to engage both communities. Sister City programmes bridge language and cultural barriers and create long lasting friendships that are truly second to none.

Thank you again for the opportunity to take part in this conference and to network among friends who are dedicated to the achievement of world peace, one individual, one community at a time.Thank you.