Minister Ida Chong's Mission Journal

Day 6 — November 24

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• Minister's journal entry for Nov. 24

Nov. 24 meeting between Minister Ida Chong and senior representatives of the Shaxi District, City of Zhongshan where they explored the opportunities for twinning with British Columbia communities.

Minister Chong (right) with Vice Mayor of Zhongshan City, Ms Han Ze Sheng, Mayor Alan Lowe of Victoria and the Secretary Chairman of the Zhongshan Shaxi Municipality , Mr. Hu YongKang.

Minister Chong with the Vice-Mayor of Zhonghsan City, Ms Han Ze Sheng.

Minister Chong receiving a limited edition commemorative book about Dr. Sun Yat Sen from Mr. Chen Gen Kai, the Secretary General of the Zhongshan People's Government, the senior municipal official in Zhongshan.

Journal entry for Nov. 24

Departing early from Guangzhou to Zhongshan, some 80 km south, upon arrival, we were met by the Vice–Mayor of Zhongshan, Ms. Han Ze Sheng, who provided an overview of the progress of this bustling dynamic city.

We visited the ancestral home of Victoria Mayor Alan Lowe and then met with the Mayor of the Shaxi District of Zhongshan, the centre of casual wear production.

I briefed them on British Columbia’s interest in Asia Pacific and China in particular focussing on environmental protection, the Olympics and B.C. as the Gateway to/from North America.

This meeting in Zhongshan follows close on the heels of a meeting I was invited to in Vancouver prior to my departure to China of the Zhongshan Friendship Association, who were looking for a Lower Mainland twin. As the “honest broker” in the twinning process, I will ensure the two parties connect and determine if there are mutual interests to pursue twinning arrangements.

Further solidifying our sister province relationship, I was invited to visit the ancestral home of Dr. Sun Yat Sen, an icon in Chinese political history and, some say, the father of the People’s Republic of China. This amazing individual is also honoured in Vancouver with the very first and largest classical Chinese gardens outside of Asia.

In the evening, we were honoured to meet with Mr. Chen Gen Shai, Secretary General of Zhongshan People’s Government and dinner was hosted in a most gracious way by Ms. Han Ze Sheng, Vice-Mayor of the People’s Government of Zhongshan City.

Tomorrow we will be leaving early for my ancestral home, Kaiping, for meetings with municipal government officials and will head back to Guangzhou in the afternoon.