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Chattanooga delegation participates in Wuxi International Trade Festival
 10/21/2002Wuxi, China--The Wuxi International Trade Festival opened today in China, with representatives from Chattanooga in attendance. City Council Chairman Ron Littlefield led the local delegation at the invitation of the Foreign Affairs Office of Wuxi, the Sister City of Chattanooga. “Spectacular,” said Chairman Littlefield. “The opening ceremonies of the festival were unmatched by anything I’ve ever seen with the possible exception of the opening of the Olympics.” Three festivals opened concurrently, including the Golden Rooster and Thousand Flowers Film Festival and the Tourism Festival. Sitting on the reviewing platform with Mayor Wong Rong of Wuxi was Chairman Yu Jiashu of the Standing Committee of Wuxi Municipal People’s Congress, who will lead the next delegation to Chattanooga later this year. Also on the platform were consul generals from other nations and national and local officials and dignitaries. The Chattanooga group was the only Sister City delegation in attendance. The Chattanooga delegation consists of Mr. and Mrs. Littlefield, Mr and Mrs. Robert Edwards and Eleanor Cooper of the Sister Cities Association, Bill Prince of UTC, and Yuen Lee of Chattanooga City Government. The Golden Rooster Awards and the International Film Festival are said to be the Chinese equivalent of the Oscar’s, noted Mr. Littlefield. Accordingly, the gathering glittered with the biggest film stars in China. On a scale that might be expected in a nation of 1.3 billion people, the 2 1/2 hour extravaganza included the most notable singers and performers in Asia. At one point galloping horses and chariots representing the time of the “Three Kingdoms” in China, crossed the stage in mock battle of ancient times. A well-known television personality and star of an historical drama sang the theme song popularized by the television show. Then over three hundred children played the traditional Chinese string instruments along with a noted master. “Not all the acts were traditional,” noted Bill Prince. The highlight for him was the Chinese rap singer accompanied by King-fu dancers. The show ended with fireworks display only the Chinese could produce. Mr. Edwards, President of the Sister Cities Association in Chattanooga remarked at the conclusion of the ceremonies, “We are going to have trouble matching this when the Wuxi delegation comes to Chattanooga next month.” The spectacular nature of the event is a glimpse of the opening ceremonies of the Olympics that will beheld in China in 2008. The purpose of the delegation exchange is to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Sister City relationship between Chattanooga and Wuxi. While in Wuxi the delegation observed Wuxi’s high technology industrial development zone and opportunities for U.S. investments and cooperative enterprises. The delegation met with city officials and education leaders, discussing possibilities for future exchanges. Wuxi is one of ten major economic centers in China. Its GDP last year was $17 billion (US). The per capita GDP ranks number one in the Jiangsu province. Wuxi is located in the Yangtze River Delta between Shanghai and Nanjing. It has a population of 4.3 million. The region is the most economically developed in China. Massive urban developments, expressway and building projects are underway. Mr. Zhang Xiaosang , director of foreign investment promotion bureau, explained that the Wuxi New District is a massive urban development project to provide all the infrastructure and services for investors. At present GE, York, Seagate and Eastman Kodak are among the U.S. corporations investing here. All companies must meet the environmental ISO 9002 regulations. The incentives in Wuxi New District are that the companies pay no administrative fees. “The scope of their urban planning is staggering, “ said Mr. Littlefield after a tour of nearby Jiangyin, an city on the outskirts of Wuxi which has rebuilt city streets, downtown center, and reclaimed hundreds of acres of land for foreign investment. The city is noted as one of the cleanest in China. Only environmentally safe companies are allowed to develop in the area. The mayor of Jiangyin will be visiting Chattanooga early in 2003 on a tour of urban planning. In addition to industrial development, Wuxi is noted as a tourist resort. The city is located on the famous Tai Lake, a picturesque area note for rice and fish. “China is opening wide to the West. It has dramatically changed from the time other Chattanooga delegations have visited here, “ noted Mr. Edwards. For more information, contact Todd Womack, Communications Director, at 423-757-5168 ### |
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