'Sister cities' meet as mayor's visit to China ends
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SHANGHAI -- As the Pittsburgh delegation's visit to China came to a close Tuesday, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl did two things he hasn't been able to do in Pittsburgh: meet with officials from sister city Wuhan and ride a magnetic levitation train.
Those activities were sandwiched around meetings with business leaders who might be interested in investing in the Pittsburgh area. Tuesday's main target was China Air Cargo, the cargo arm of China Airlines that officials from Pittsburgh International Airport would like to lure to use facilities there.
Shortly before noon, fresh from a two-hour plane ride from Wuhan, central China, some two dozen representatives filed into a conference to meet with the mayor. With electric smiles, each rose for a personal introduction.
"They're very proud of their city," said Mr. Ravenstahl, who thanked them for coming while apologizing for having a schedule that did not allow him to visit their city. "The next time we're in China we'll definitely make the trip," he told them.
Handing Mr. Ravenstahl a gift of a bronze bowl -- an ancient Chinese symbol of strength that dates to the country's imperial history -- Wuhan Vice Mayor Liu Shunni told him: "You will have more power."
The mayor, in turn, presented Ms. Shunni with a black-and-gold glass bowl created by the Pittsburgh Glass Center, a public access glass studio dedicated to teaching, creating and promoting glass art. "I thought Pittsburgh was only a steel city," the vice mayor said.
Pittsburgh is one of 20 cites globally and one of two in the United States to "twin" with Wuhan. (The other U.S. city is St. Louis.) But Pittsburgh's "sister city" relationship is the oldest, beginning Sept. 8, 1982.
Wuhan is located 620 miles inland, a straight shot west of Shanghai. Like Pittsburgh, it is situated at the confluence of major rivers: the Yangtze and Hanshui.
Founded 3,000 years ago, Wuhan is China's fourth-largest city with a population of 10 million. In Central China it is the political, economic and cultural hub.
Ms. Shunni was accompanied to Shanghai by representatives of the city's Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the head of its "modern urban construction group," and the chairmen of the boards of its Boda Real Estate, Huali Environment Protection Science Technology, Tianqi Laser Equipment, Xingda Armored Door and Marstek companies.
First Published October 13, 2010 12:00 am
