Norfolk signs friendship agreement with Ningbo-Beilun District in China

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Category: Ningbo District

Published: Friday, 26 April 2013 11:47

Norfolk City Manager Marcus Jones was in Ningbo China to participate in the signing of the Friendship City Agreement between the City of Norfolk and the Norfolk Sister City Association with the Ningbo-Beilun District and Ningbo Economic and Technical Development Zone of China.

The agreement builds sustainable educational, cultural and economic development relationships. Ningbo-Beilun and Norfolk are both home to active ports. The agreement is the first with a strong emphasis on economic development. It is one step in the process to become a Sister City.

Jone’s five day trip included meetings with Gov. Bob McDonnell who was also in Ningbo as part of the Governor’s economic development and job creation trip to California and Asia.

In May 2012, a delegation from Ningbo visited Norfolk. NSCA presented their mission and the relationships with Norfolk’s nine sister cities, which evolved into a budding friendship sister city relationship, according to a press release from the city. The Norfolk mattress company, Paramount Sleep,  exports its product directly to Ningbo. The Virginia Port Authority supports the desire to further this relationship.