FORT BEND COUNTY, TX – Fort Bend County and the Chancheng District of Foshan City of the People’s Republic of China, on November 18, 2011, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote friendly cooperation and friendship.
The MOU, signed in Foshan City by County Judge Bob Hebert and Liu Donghau, CEO of the Chancheng District, will facilitate further communications and cooperation in areas of economics and trade, culture and sport, and environmental protection. It provides for the exchange of views on issues of common interest as well as the exploration of possible collaborative projects that will benefit both Fort Bend County and Foshan City. The MOU will allow the two agencies to build further on the relationship that has been developed.
This initiative began in late 2010 when Judge Hebert formed the Fort Bend County Friendship Committee, a group organized to explore and facilitate the establishment of a “Sister Community” relationship that will enhance our understanding of the Chinese culture and heritage, while providing potential benefits to the Fort Bend economy. Fort Bend residents participating on the Friendship Committee include George Chang, Michael Liu, Gary Lo, Howard Paul, Allison Wen, Daniel Wong, Danny Nguyen and Jeff Wiley of the Greater Fort Bend Economic Development Council.
County Judge Bob Hebert stated, “I was very impressed with the energy and forward-thinking exhibited by the representatives of Foshan, a 1,500 year old city of 4.5 million residents. The Chancheng District, with 1.1 million residents, comprises the business center of the greater Foshan municipality. This MOU is a great first step in building a long-term relationship with a Chinese community sharing many of our goals and objectives.”
Foshan is a modern city with a long history dating back to approximately 1,500 years located in the northern part of the Pearl River plain, approximately 12 miles from Guangzhou in Guangdong Province. It is made up of five districts: Chancheng, Shunde, San-shui, Nanhai and Gaoming Districts. The government seat is located in Chancheng District. Foshan is a vital part of an active economic zone stretching from Guangzhou in the east to Hong Kong and Macau in the south and was one of the earliest Chinese ports to engage in foreign trade after China initiated its open door policy. Besides fishing and farming, the local craftsmen are world renowned for their skills in making ceramics. Foshan is a national commercial center for Chinese ceramic products and furniture manufacturing; as well as a cultural center for ceramics, Cantonese opera and the martial arts.
###