October 31, 2005

Shanghai Deputy Mayor Feng Guoqin Receives Conference of Mayors Delegation in Shanghai The Conference of Mayors delegation had the honor of meeting with the Shanghai Vice Mayor Feng Guoqin while in his city on October 10. The Vice Mayor outlined the “great changes that have taken place in Shanghai since the late 1990’s,” including a six- to seven-fold increase in the annual income of Shanghai’s citizens, a comprehensive social security system, a medical insurance system, a stronger economy, and an increase in life expectancy to an average of 80 years of age.

Vice Mayor Feng described challenges in his city, including traffic congestion, industrial restructuring in which factories are being located from within the city to more remote areas outside, an aging population (now one-fifth of the total population).

President O’Neill pointed out to Mr. Feng that her city of Long Beach “used to be the number three port in the world. Now we are fifth, with Shanghai third.”

Vice Mayor Feng and the U.S. delegation agreed that, “This is the century of cities.”