CC - Item 7A - Request by Luncheng District of Wenzhou China to Build a Relationship With The City of RosemeadROSEMEAD CITY COUNCIL
STAFF REPORT
TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: JEFF ALLRED, CITY MANAGER
DATE: November 12, 2013
SUBJECT: REQUEST BY LUCHENG DISTRICT OF WENZHOU, CHINA
TO BUILD A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD
SUMMARY
The City Council will review and discuss a request from the Lucheng District of
Wenzhou City in the Zhejiang Province to build a relationship with the City of Rosemead
for the purposes of economic, cultural and educational exchange. Wenzhou City is
located along the East China Sea and touts itself as a business oriented - oriented town
with exports distributed to over 100 countries and regions of the world. There is a large
population of people in Southern California who hail from Wenzhou City, and a U.S.
Wenzhou Association is headquartered in the West San Gabriel Valley with an office on
South El Monte. The Rosemead Sister City Committee has considered this request and
recommends that the City Council take affirmative steps towards initiating an
exploratory process that could potentially develop into a future Sister City relationship.
Recommendation:
The Rosemead Sister City Committee recommends that the City Council authorize
actions leading towards the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the
Lucheng District of Wenzhou City, China to explore the potential for the ultimate
establishment of a Sister City relationship.
BACKGROUND /ANALYSIS
At the present time, the City of Rosemead has two longstanding Sister City
relationships - -a semi - active relationship with Keelung, Taiwan and a less active
relationship with Zapopan, Mexico. In 2009, the City Council approved a policy for
Sister City Committees and established guidelines for the promotion of cultural,
educational, humanitarian, and economic exchange between Rosemead and its "sister
cities ". That policy expressly prohibits City expenditures for payment of travel expenses
to and from sister cities and related expenditures on behalf of any individual, including
Sister City Committee members and the City Council. The policy statement also
authorizes the Committee to make recommendations to the City Council on the
establishment of future Sister City relationships.
ffEM NO.
City Council Meeting
November 12, 2013
Re: Lucheng District of Wenzhou, China
Page 2 of 2
Over two years ago, in August of 2011, the Sister City Committee and the City Council
discussed the potential of entering into a requested Sister City relationship with Bozhou,
China. At a reception, a "friendship city' MOU was executed by the cities to explore the
potential for a sister city relationship. Since that time, there have been no other
relationship activities between the two cities. The reason for the lack of activity is an
absence of commitment by local residents or businesses with a particular interest or
affiliation with Bozhou to further the relationship.
In October of this year, the City of Rosemead was contacted by the U.S. Wenzhou
Association communicating a request from the Lucheng District of Wenzhou City to
build a relationship with the City of Rosemead for the purpose of economic, cultural, and
educational exchange. At its November 4, 2013 meeting, the consensus of the City's
Sister City Committee was that the City of Rosemead should offer an affirmative
response and take actions towards the execution of a MOU to explore the potential for
the establishment of a formal "Sister City" relationship. The Committee made the
recommendation on a 4 to 0 vote, with Committee Member Tom Wu absent. In
supporting their recommendation, the Committee members stated their belief that there
is sufficient level of interest and commitment on the part of local citizens and business
operators, who are members of the U.S. Wenzhou Association, to ultimately sustain a
Sister City relationship. Consequently, due to the existence of the local U.S. Wenzhou
Association, Committee members expressed confidence that the lack follow- through
that was experienced with the Bozhou, China relationship would not be repeated with
Wenzhou, China.
Members of the Committee and staff further expressed the opinion that the City of
Rosemead should be careful about entering into a formal Sister City relationship by
ensuring that the city is a "good fit" and can produce sustained economic and cultural
exchange activities between the cities. The Committee members expressed confidence
that Wenzhou is a good fit for Rosemead due to its vibrant entrepreneurial spirit and its
aggressive commitment to economic trade and investment. Ms. Sher C. Li, Honorary
Chairwoman and Past President of the U.S. Wenzhou Association, will be in attendance
at the City Council meeting. The husband of Ms. Li is the current President of the
Association.
Finally, due to the City of Rosemead's relatively small size and limited organizational
workforce, the Committee and staff recognize that it is not practically feasible to have
more than one sister city in the Republic of China. Consequently, it would appear to be
prudent for Rosemead to engage in preliminary, exploratory relations with only one city
in China during any particular period time.
Attachments
34�,�OU A33�C
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U.S. Wenzhou Association
Behalf of Lucheng District of Wenzhou, we would like to contact City of Rosemead
to build friendly relationship between Lucheng District of Wenzhou and Rosemead City.
Situated along the coast of the East China Sea and on the Southern bank of the
Oujiang River, Lucheng is the central urban district of Wenzhou City. Legend has it that
as the town was built, a white deer holding a flower in its mouth passed by. This was
regarded as a sign of good fortune. Thus, the town was named White Deer Town or Deer
Town.
In December 1984, Lucheng was made a district. In 2011, Lucheng was reorganized
into administrative divisions. Lucheng is composed of 7 sub - districts and 1 town,
containing an area of 294.38 square kilometers. The total permanent registered
population is 726,000, with an additional 567,000 non - permanent registered residents.
Lucheng is the major trading port, collection center, and distribution center, of south
Zhejiang's coast. Merchants have gathered in Lucheng since antiquity. Lucheng faces
towards the West China Sea, and is surrounded by hills. Lucheng's coastal setting
combined with clever and skilled people, fill this small town with vitality and energy. In the
year of 2012, Lucheng GDP was 67.49 billion RMB. Within Lucheng, there are nearly
9,000 non- public enterprises. Lucheng has had 7 famous trademarks, 5 Chinese famous -
brand products, 4 famous Chinese brand products for export, and 22 national inspection -
free products.
The Lucheng District Government has actively implemented a strategy of
"optimizing the secondary industry and strengthening the tertiary industry." This strategy
entails expediting construction of the urban industrial corridor. The shoe capital and light
industrial park projects, serve as the platform and backing of the development. Lucheng
Light Industrial Park of Wenzhou, Zhejiang has been ranked a provincial -level
1230 Santa Anita Ave. #G, S. El Monte, CA 91733
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U.S. Wenzhou Association
development zone. Within Lucheng, there are 3 national industrial production bases:
"China's Capital of Shoes ", "China's Production Base for Razors ", and "China's
Production Base for Metal -case Cigarette Lighters ". "China's Capital of Shoes ", "China's
Production Base for Razors ", and "China's Production Base for Metal -case Cigarette
Lighters ".
Due to its long history of engaging in trade, Lucheng is a business - oriented town.
Exports "Made in Lucheng" go to over 100 countries and regions of the world. Now, the
people of Lucheng are making concentrated efforts to create a more favorable investment
environment to boost the districts export- oriented economy, and promote social- economic
development. Friends from various countries, compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan,
and overseas Chinese, are welcome to invest, visit for leisure, and seek potential
business opportunities in Lucheng.
Lets join hands, advance together, enjoy wealth and prosperity as a result of our
collaboration.
Sincerely,
Thomas Li
President of U.S. Wenzhou Association
July 20,2013
1230 Santa Anita Ave. #G. S. El Monte, CA 91733