RESOLUTION NO. 190950

Celebrating the 30th anniversary of Kansas City – Xi’an Sister City partnership and the 40th anniversary of the normalization of U.S. China relations and welcoming delegations from Xi’an and Beijing, China.

WHEREAS, Sister Cities International was founded by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956 to promote peace through mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation — one individual, one community at a time; and

WHEREAS, the U.S. and China normalized their diplomatic relations in 1979. Since then, peoples of both nations have been brought closer to tackle common problems and gain mutual benefits. There are now 50 pairs of sister states/provinces and 227 pairs of sister cities between the U.S. and China; and

WHEREAS, Xi’an became Kansas City’s 6th sister city in 1989. Peoples of both cities have conducted numerous exchanges and cooperation over the years. We are more connected than ever before; and

WHEREAS, the Society for Friendship with China, in partnership with the Xi’an Committee of Kansas City Sister City Association, will celebrate the friendship between peoples of the U.S. and China, especially between Kansas City and Xi’an on November 7, 2019; and

WHEREAS, Xi’an municipal government plans to send a delegation of government officials led by Deputy Mayor, Lin Wang. An-Wei, who was awarded the Key to the City in January 1986 and was saluted by a resolution of this council for his contributions in January 2005, will lead a delegation of citizen diplomats from Xi’an. Jianmi Jia, who has helped tremendously with Kansas City’s annual International Dragon Boat Festival and hosted visitors from Kansas City, will also lead a delegation of citizen diplomats from Beijing; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY OF KANSAS CITY:

That the Mayor and Council hereby celebrate the 30th anniversary of Kansas City – Xi’an Sister City partnership and the 40th anniversary of the normalization of U.S. China relations; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Resolution be spread upon the Minutes of the Council in testimony thereof and that a copy hereof be presented to Teresa Chien, An-Wei, and Jianmi Jia with the Mayor and Council welcoming the delegations from Xi’an and Beijing, China.

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