September 20, 2012

Mayor Emanuel Welcomes Mayor Tang Liangzhi of Wuhan, China

Visit Included Signing a Memorandum of Understanding and a Ceremonial Unveiling of a Gift to Chicago, Highlighting the Two Cities Growing Relationship

Mayor's Press Office    312.744.3334

Mayor Rahm Emanuel today welcomed the Mayor of Wuhan, China, Tang Liangzhi, and a Wuhan delegation to Chicago. Mayor Emanuel and Mayor Tang signed a memorandum of understanding that will allow for further collaboration and dialogue between the two cities.

“Over the years, we have formed a strong cultural, business and economic relationship with our Chinese friends,” said Mayor Emanuel. “Chicago is a city of immigrants and all of us are proud of this heritage. I am proud that Chicago is home to an ever growing Chinese community.”  

In addition, Mayor Emanuel was presented a Yellow Crane statue, a gift from Mayor Tang and the Wuhan delegation to the City of Chicago. The statue symbolizes the historic Yellow Crane Tower in Wuhan, considered to be among the Four Great Towers of China. The Yellow Crane statue will be placed in a newly constructed boathouse in Chinatown’s Ping Tom Park.

“On this occasion, I come here to tell the story of the Return of the Crane, and make Chicago the new home of our beautiful crane.  I wish you all a happy and healthy life and I wish Wuhan and Chicago common growth and prosperity,” said Mayor Tang. 

The City of Wuhan is one of the fastest growing industrialized cities in the world with a population of over 10 million. Chicago and Wuhan share economic parallels as both cities are known as global leaders in logistics and manufacturing.   The Yellow Crane statue will soon be moored to its new home in Ping Tom Park, where it will be on display as a symbol of the growing relationship between these two cities.

Mayor Emanuel has been seeking opportunities to foster positive economic development opportunities with China. In the past year, Cathay Pacific has begun offering daily non-stop flights between Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and Hong Kong International Airport (HKG), leading to nearly $200 million in economic activity to the Chicago region.  These flights bring to more than 40 direct flights each week between Chicago and China, in addition to 43 weekly cargo flights. In addition, DirecTV, CCTV4 and the Chicago hotel industry have formed a collaborative partnership to broadcast Chinese cable television to nearly 20,000 Chicago hotel rooms carrying the television station. This signing allows for Chicago and Wuhan to bolster our shared economic interest.

 

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