Shenzhen China International Conference on Urban Development and Innovation Houston Shenzhen Sister City Association

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1 Shenzhen China International Conference on Urban Development and Innovation Houston Shenzhen Sister City Association President Report on Texas & Mexico Mayors delegation visiting China Cities: Shenzhen, Qingyuan, Panyu, Guangzhou, and Beijing from 2-19 to The Houston Shenzhen Sister City was recognized and represented itself as a strong ambassador organization of good will, sister city promoter and a positive alliance resource of USA/ China economic development opportunities. We continue to take strong steps for future growth exchange in tourism, cultural and educational exchange as shown at the International Conference on Urban Development and Innovation in Shenzhen, China. The City of Shenzhen Municipal Government and Mayor XU Qin, acting host and the Shenzhen, China Mission of Cities: Innovation for the Future coordinators presented a very important and professional program. Opening ceremonies recognized key participants including guests, invitees and participants to the Conference. Houston Shenzhen Sister City was proud to have been instrumental in assisting the City of Shenzhen and Conference organizers with recruitment of speakers, participants and with introductions of business leaders from the City of Houston and other Texas cities participating. In Mayor s Xu Qin opening comments we learn that the China government is developing a very open and futuristic approach on world economic development: one with world

2 cities innovations and China s urbanization. China s urbanization rate is already over fifty percent and will continue its rapid growth. It is positioned to have a tremendous impact on the world economy as well as on China s urban development population. The conference introduced a theme of sharing and learning from invited countries on how to draw on successful economic world models. Attending countries shared introduced and explored opportunities and new models for Chinese urbanization. This is the most important and immediate task for China s success and future growth. Key Conference Goals: The Conference was hosted by a high-profile delegation from various countries, USA, Israel, Italy, Mexico, Denmark, Taiwan, Canada, Singapore, France and China. The visiting participants, which included a number of mayors from around the world, Nobel Prize Laureate winner, and highest rank government officials in Hong Kong, mainland cities were well received by our Mayor XU QIN hosts and conference attendees. In addition to the distinguished guests the conference was televised live by Hong Kong Phoenix Satellite TV and televised later by CCTV. The program opening remarks and guests included John Kam Yin KEUNG, Chief Executive Officer, Singapore s Building and Construction Authority (BCA), Mohsen MOSTAFAVI, Dean, Harvard Graduate School of Design, SHI Nan, Vice President, International Society of City and Regional Planners and Secretary General, Urban Planning Society of China, Mayor Joe HERNANDEZ, Mayor, San Benito, USA, Letizia MORATTI, Mayor, Milano, Italy. The delegation provided overviews of different industry to assist and challenge China s vision and mission; its role on enhancing innovation and growth, as well as various world experiences dealings in economic development were presented. The delegation also presented models, procedures and regulations necessary for addressing present challenges facing China, and insights on China s economic growth. "One of the strategic objectives of China is achieving sustainable economic development growth by providing suitable environment innovation models to encourage international investors and companies to choose China as an ideal destination for business, investment and tourism growth. The conference presented avenues to strengthen strategic partnership with private sector organizations, associations i.e., Houston Shenzhen Sister City Association, and other main contributors to economic development, as well as to attract foreign

3 investment, encourage SMEs, export development, and to strive towards building infrastructures to handle the tremendous growth presently happening in China s city population. The Future of Cities and their Mission: At present China is open to study and partnership with outside countries willing to share and assist in urban development of its growing cities, under the vision of sustainable cities, eco-cities, smart cities, low carbon cities and etc. The conference held very open discussions focused on the green and natural accommodation of cities and its people and nature as well balancing China s development in its economic development programs. Some noted participants included; Robert A.MUNDELL, Economist, Nobel Prize Laureate QIU Baoxing, Vice Minister Ministry of Housing & Urban-Rural Development, opportunity was available to meet and greet all guests and down the road networking is open for exploration with our Houston Sister City future programs. Accommodation and Integration of Diverse Cultures: It is essential that consideration of accommodation and integration of diverse cultures be given in urban development. As China grows in the international arena so does its city diversity. During the course of the conference we learned that China s urban development, support and commitment is in the inclusion of various and different cultures that are coming into the country. China is positioning to explore the diversity of these growing urban cultures and open to finding solutions to the sustainable development of cities for its globalization future. Guests that we were presented included: Jiang Shengyang famous, Anchor, Hong Kong Phoenix Satellite TV, LIU Changle, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Hong Kong Phoenix Satellite Television, FENG Jicai, Chinese Author, Piero FASSINO, Mayor, Turin, Italy, Penny GURSTEIN, Director, the School of Community and Regional Planning and the Centre for Human Settlements, University of British Columbia, Canada MA Weihua, President, China Merchants Bank, GE Honglin, Mayor, Chengdu, China. Our Houston sister city

4 organization continue to play a key role with the City of Shenzhen as they look to continue to request our assistance in bringing, USA representatives, professionals and specials guests to future conferences. Urban Transition and Industrial Innovation: Our sister city organization and the City of Houston are held in high esteem because of its strategic economic relationship it represents to the world. We are an energy and innovative city. Our organization is seen in the best light for we represent the creative and innovative future China is seeking to build. New energy, new green materials and technologies like the internet are seen as important strategic emerging industries for China. The global approach to modern service industries such as finance, logistics, cultural innovation, information services and technology services, places the City of Houston and our Houston sister city organization in the main position for future driving forces to help China with urban development and innovation. The conference addressed this presidium need by the Chinese government as it addresses its industry and financial sectors and learns how to interact relationships between industrial innovation and urban development and its futures. Special speakers on this subject were: Long Yongtu, Former Secretary General, Boao Forum for Asia,XU Qin, Mayor, Shenzhen, China,WANG Shi, Chairman, Vanke Group, MA Huateng, Executive Director, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Tencent.ZHANG Yaqin, Corporate Vice President of Microsoft Corporation and Chairman of Microsoft China Company Ltd, Scott PRICE, President, Wal-Mart Asia, SHAO Zhanxiong, Mayor, Hangzhou, China, CHEN Baogen, Mayor, Xi an, China, WANG Yuan, Chief Economist, China Development Bank and LI Bing, CEO, Shenzhen Construction Development Group. The Quality of Urban Life: The fast pace growth that China has shown has also confronted the China cities with key issues in environmental pollution, traffic jam, deterioration of living environment and lacking of public healthcare. An open arms approach has been extended to us and other similar organizations to help and share methodology with our sister city on how best to improve these challenges facing every major city in China. The cities visited face considerable challenges in transportation, housing,

5 education, healthcare, water supply and waste disposal. Future urban planning to improve quality of urban life, city environments and the overall standard of living for the people of China is important to China. We had an insightful presentation by China s leading representatives that included meeting TANG Liangzhi, Mayor, Wuhan, China, Yona YAHAV, Mayor, Haifa, Israel, Mayor Efrain De Leon Leon of Villa Hermosa, Tamaulipas Mexico, and City of Houston, USA Councilman Al Hoang (Represented Mayor Parker), LIU Taige, Director, RSP Architects Planners & Engineers, Singapore, Anthony G.O. YEH, Academician, The Chinese Academy of Sciences and Secretary General of the Asian Planning Schools Association LI Xiaojiang, President, China's Urban Planning and Design Institute Summary Overall the Houston Shenzhen Sister City Association continues to forge strong ties with its sister city of Shenzhen, China. Our overall relationship in cultural exchange, visiting delegation support, introductions of educational opportunities, cultural program interests/ exchange, together with the introduction of USA-China private/public business has formed a strong alliance between the two sister cities. We continue to support our Shenzhen sister city and it is important to recognize our growing role of support and exchange as Shenzhen, China becomes the mega-city of the world. We learned that it will be the center of a planned 9 municipal cities merges representing over 42 million people as the Mega City of the world within five years. Houston Shenzhen Sister City Association is also proud to have introduced the cities of San Benito, Texas and Villa Hermosa, Tamaulipas Mexico to interested future sister cities in China. We continue to be recognized and future requests for assistance will continue to grow as our organization continues to build a proud and positive reputation in China. I respectfully submit this report, Sandy Phan-Gillis, President Shenzhen Sister City Association March 21, 2012