Not Sisters Yet, But a St. Charles-Nanchang Relationship Begins

Although St. Charles doesn’t have a Chinese sister city yet, it has begun a relationship with Nanchang, capital of Jiangxi Province in China.

“The sister city is something we’re exploring,” St. Charles Mayor Sally Faith said.

Faith attended a business a business session Wednesday, as the Midwest U.S-China Association (MWCA) hosted delegation the Nanchang Chamber of Commerce at the law firm SNR Denton downtown St. Louis offices.

The MWCA helps bring businesses, government, academic institutions and cultural organizations together with its Chinese counterparts.

St. Charles and Nanchang don’t yet have an agreement spelled out. Faith also said that the Nanchang mayor did not make the trip to the United States and so could not be present to sign the agreement.

“We need to reach out and be included in discussions,” Faith said.

Faith was there to greet and meet with Chen Bin, chairman of the Nanchang Chamber of Commerce, and other Nanchang business leaders.

“Thank you for this opportunity. St. Charles is excited,” Faith told the Nanchang delegation and the MWCA gathering.

“St. Charles is pleased to be a part of this for two reasons: economic development and friendship,” she said.

Through an interpreter, Bin described Nanchang as a growing, commercial center where the economy includes biomedicine, transportation, air industry, auto manufacturing, solar energy and agriculture. It has just finished building an international airport.

Its 18 publicly traded businesses include Microsoft and a Ford auto manufacturing plant.

In 2006, Newsweek magazine also named Nanchang one of China's 10 most dynamic cities.

The Chinese delegation presented Faith with several gifts, including a large sheet of Chinese calligraphy.

Bin signed a sister chamber agreement with the Springfield Chamber of Commerce during Wednesday’s event.

The Chinese business leaders were on a seven-day tour that included stops in New York and Los Angeles. St. Louis was the tour’s only stop in the Midwest.

Former Missouri Gov. Bob Holden, chairman of the MWCA welcomed the Chinese businessmen to the Midwest.

Holden said he recently helped bring Mamtek, a Chinese company, to Moberly, MO where MWCA plans to increase jobs by up to 500 positions within five years.

“The singular reason for this was simple: relationships,” Holden said. “After signing the deal, the CEO of Mamtek turned to me and said, ‘Bob, these people like each other. They have leaders who work together and know how to lead.’”

Holden also said China will soon have more high-speed rail than in the rest of the world combined.

“There is every reason for us to work together for our economic benefit and their economic benefit, but also for a safer world tomorrow,” he said.