A delegation from the City of New Westminster is jetting off to China this week to visit its friendship and sister cities.
Mayor Wayne Wright, councillors Bill Harper, Jaimie McEvoy and Lorrie Williams, and city legislative services director Rick Page will be visiting five cities during the Nov. 14 to 28 business trip.
"It's a big trip," said Mayor Wright. "Everybody has a job. Everybody has a responsibility of what they are going to do."
Those responsibilities include: discussing potential economic development in New Westminster and negotiating with potential investors (Harper); reviewing the advances made in Dongcheng District in the reclamation of historic neighbourhoods (McEvoy); and meeting with cultural professionals about a plan to allow for a cultural exchange of artists, musical presentations, a potential exchange with the New Westminster Symphony Orchestra and other artistic events that will be hosted in the city's new civic centre and theatre (Williams.).
According to a staff report, the estimated cost of the trip is $12,400, which will come out of an international fund established by the city in 2003. The city had originally proposed sending a 10-person delegation to China this fall.
A staff report states that the City of New Westminster is currently considering a number of business proposals from the sister city of Lijiang, as well as the friendship cities of Yunfu, Zhenjiang and Xinzhou that would "enhance the relationship between New Westminster and China" and would bring additional development and tourism to the city. The proposals include the establishment of a large warehousing facility in New Westminster to store rock material that comes by ship from Yunfu and is destined for North American markets.
Wright said there's been some interest in a site in Queensborough, which has deep water and is able to accommodate ships carrying stone materials.
In addition, the report states that a company in Greater Yunfu, is "very interested" in establishing a showroom and retail outlet in New Westminster that would provide them with access to the Western Canadian market for their stainless steel, and Lijiang and Kunming are interested in investing in a proposal to create an international meeting place in New Westminster, known as China House, which would provide meeting rooms, a small showroom and a boutique hotel that visitors could use when doing business in Greater Vancouver.
"The sister city of Lijiang is interested in the exchange of historic information and have expressed the desire to learn about the history of New Westminster in-depth, as well as to share relevant historical information about their city," said the report. "Also, a number of investors have indicated interest in building a facility that would encompass this concept in a central location in New Westminster and the delegation will arrange to meet with these investors and make a presentation regarding economic development in the city. In order to address this economic development opportunity for the city, further meetings with the proponents will be required."
According to the report, a number of delegations have come to New Westminster from China, but in order to further these negotiations it's necessary for city representatives to meet with their counterparts in China. City officials will also sign and renew current memorandum of understanding with Dongchen District and the City of Zhenjiang.
Wright, who is attending an international conference on sustainability on behalf of Metro Vancouver in Melbourne, Australia, will join the delegation on Nov. 19.
