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White Rock enters partnership with China

City agrees to five-year friendly exchange relationship with Dongying.
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White Rock Coun. Grant Meyer

The City of White Rock has agreed to enter a “friendly exchange relationship” with a city in China, after council voted to sign a letter of intent last week.

According to a city staff report, Dongying – a city in the eastern Chinese province of Shandong – is seeking to establish a relationship with White Rock to “promote economic development, and advance science and technology, culture, tourism, sports, health care, education and other areas of mutual interest.”

Seven delegates from Dongying are set to visit White Rock later this month; so far, White Rock has no plans to send any representatives to China, however, the report indicates that if such a visit was planned, the costs would have to be approved by council.

Dongying is a city of more than two million people, situated in the northern part of the Shandong Province, neighboured by the Bohai Sea to the east and the north.

It is home to China’s second-largest oilfield, and is one of the world’s leading producers of rubber tires, with more tire factories than any other city in the world.

Upon staff recommendation, council voted unanimously in favour of the mayor signing the letter of intent to establish the relationship, which will be valid for five years.

According to the letter, upon expiration, the agreement may remain in force if neither side chooses to terminate it.