By Tom McClimon
May 24, 2010

Standing with the US Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman, U.S. Conference of Mayors President Burnsville (MN) Mayor Elizabeth B. Kautz helped to open the USA Pavilion at the World Expo Shanghai 2010 on May 1, the Expo's opening day. “I am here with a delegation of American mayors to welcome you,” proclaimed Huntsman as he opened the doors to the first visitors to the US Pavilion. Kautz, along with the other members of The U.S. Conference of Mayors delegation, shook the hands of and welcomed the first 30 visitors into the Pavilion. Over 200,000 people visited the Expo on its opening day.

The Shanghai World Expo's theme “Better City, Better Life” represents the Chinese common wish for better living in future urban environments. It is the largest gathering ever of world cultures and is the first World Expo with a “city” theme. Over 200 countries and organizations have pavilions highlighting their efforts to promote sustainability. The USA Pavilion is a $60 million privately'supported venture that showcases American culture, innovation and business. The Expo is expected to draw over 70 million visitors during its six month run. The Expo will end October 31.

Prior to the May 1 Opening Day, the Conference of Mayors delegation, at the invitation of the Chinese national government, attended the opening ceremony for the Expo on the night of April 30. In attendance along the mayors were the heads of state of over 30 countries including French President Nicholas Zarosky, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, and Chinese President HU Jiantao. Entertainment was provided by a number of celebrities including the famed actor Jackie Chan and tenor Andrea Bocelli. The evening concluded with the biggest fireworks and laser light show ever produced.

The Shanghai World Expo was the culmination of a weeklong trip to China by a Conference of Mayors delegation. In addition to Kautz, other members of the delegation were: Long Beach (CA) Mayor Bob Foster, Bowling Green (KY) Mayor Elaine Walker, Bridgeport (CT) Mayor Bill Finch and Conference of Mayors CEO and Executive Director Tom Cochran. During their week in China, the mayors traveled to Beijing, Chengdu, and Shanghai.

This mission to China is part of a continuing joint cooperative effort between the China Association of Mayors (CAM), which began in 1999. Its purpose is to foster and strengthen US-China mayoral and government relationships.

The U.S. Conference of Mayors and the China Association of Mayors convened the Sixth Sino-US Mayors Summit in Chengdu, April 28. The theme of the summit was “Sustainable Development of Cities: Challenges and Countermeasures.”

The Conference of Mayors delegation met with Madam Tao Siliang, Executive Vice President of the China Association of Mayors, Hefei Mayor Wu Cunrong, Yiwu Vice Mayor Fu Chunming, Taizhou Vice Mayor Ye Adong, Chengdu Vice Mayor Fu Yonglin, Baotou Vice Mayor Lian Su, and Secretary General of the China Association of Mayors, Cui Hengde.

Kautz gave the keynote address at the opening of the Summit. In her remarks, the mayor stated that, “Chinese and US mayors share the same vision and resolve toward achieving sustainable development, the green economy, and environmental protection. This Summit symbolizes the commitment of Chinese and US mayors to continued cooperation.” Later in the Summit, Kautz served as the Summit facilitator for the afternoon sessions.

Foster, Chair of the Conference's Standing Committee on the Environment, helped to set the framework for the first session on “Cities Sustainable Development”. Finch was a panelist for the session on “Cities Green Economy” and Walker was a panelist for the session on “Cities Environmental Protection.” Cochran helped to open the Summit by giving the Chinese mayors an overview of the Conference's efforts to date on climate protection, including the establishment of the Mayors Climate Protection Center and the Mayors Climate Protection Agreement.

In the culminating event of the Sixth Sino-US Mayors Summit, The U.S. Conference of Mayors and the China Association of Mayors signed a Memorandum of Understanding pledging to “…continue to work together in all areas of sustainability.” The U.S. Conference of Mayors agreed to host the Seventh Sino-US Mayors Summit at its 79th Annual Conference of Mayors in Baltimore in June 2011. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Kautz, Cochran, Siliang, and Hengde.

Following the conclusion of the Summit, the Chinese and American mayors traveled to Mingdu Park and planted “Trees of Friendship” celebrating the successful conclusion of the Summit. “These living trees represent the renewed and living friendship between the cities of our two countries,” stated Kautz in her remarks.

Prior to the start of the Summit, the mayors' delegation was honored at a banquet hosted by Chengdu Mayor Ge Honglin and members of the Chengdu municipal government. Chengdu is the capital city of Sichuan Province and is the hub of trade and finance for southwest China. With a metropolitan population of over 13 million, the city is also the home to the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, a world-renowned scientific and research institution for saving the endangered giant pandas. The Conference of Mayors delegation had the opportunity to visit this facility during its stay in Chengdu.

In addition to visits to Shanghai for the opening of the Shanghai World Expo, and Chengdu for the Sixth Sino-US Mayors Summit, the Conference of Mayors delegation also traveled to Beijing where the mayors met with Beijing Mayor Guo Jinlong, President of the China Association of Mayors. The mayors and Guo discussed common challenges mayors face in providing jobs and services for their citizens. “The most important thing for US and China relations, is the building of friendships between the cities of our two countries,” stated Guo.

The mayors also met with He Ning, Director of the Department of American and Oceanian Affairs for the Ministry of Finance and Commerce and Zheng Zeguang, Director of the Department of American and Oceanian Affairs for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Discussions centered on the need to annually provide 24 million new jobs each year to meeting the growing population needs and the challenges of balancing economic development and social harmony in such a large and growing industrial and urbanized country.