San Francisco Sun

San Francisco and Shanghai commemorated the 45th anniversary of their Sister City relationship with a gathering in Shanghai, attended by Mayor London N. Breed and Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng. The event served as a platform to renew commitments to economic cooperation, cultural exchanges, and tourism promotion between the two cities.

"I am deeply grateful to be in beautiful Shanghai with Mayor Gong to mark the 45th anniversary of the San Francisco-Shanghai Sister City Relationship," expressed Mayor London Breed during the anniversary reception. She emphasized the significance of the partnership in driving progress, innovation, and mutual understanding.

Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng reciprocated the sentiment, stating, "Mayor Breed’s visit has been very productive, and I look forward to leading a delegation to visit San Francisco in May. I believe that such exchanges and visits will enhance the friendly ties and promote better cooperations in economy, culture, and commerce."

The Sister City relationship, established in 1979, has facilitated over 200 collaborative projects spanning various sectors, including events like "Shanghai Week in SF" and "SF Week in Shanghai," which have promoted cultural exchange between the cities. Additionally, the relationship has paved the way for interactions with future Chinese leaders and San Francisco's participation in the Shanghai Expo 2010.

Daphne Fang, Chair of the San Francisco Sister City Committee, expressed her enthusiasm for the ongoing collaboration, stating, "I am so honored to be able to help connect Mayor Breed and Mayor Gong, and their delegations with various institutes for so many meaningful exchanges among the people of the two cities."

The Sister City relationship between San Francisco and Shanghai includes judicial and government exchanges, business management fellowships, and the development of a Chinese Garden in San Francisco. The upcoming signing and renewal of the Sister City memorandum of understanding next month in San Francisco will further solidify the commitment to cooperation and mutual growth between the two cities.

In remembering the roots of the partnership, it was highlighted that the relationship between San Francisco and Shanghai was initiated in 1979, making it the first of its kind between the U.S. and China. This pioneering effort was spearheaded by community leaders like Supervisor Tom Hsieh, Gordon Lau, and James Fang, whose legacy continues to shape the collaboration between the cities.

The commemoration of the 45th anniversary of the San Francisco-Shanghai Sister City Relationship serves as a testament to the enduring bond between the two cities, fostering a future built on mutual respect, understanding, and collaboration.