Sister-city delegation from Anqing, China meets in Calabasas

A nine-member sister city delegation from Anqing, China visited Calabasas last Thursday during a reception at city hall and discussed with Calabasas officials cultural and educational exchanges between the two cities. The event went well and promoted contact, understanding and cooperative economic, cultural and educational development, according to Calabasas City Councilman Dennis Washburn.

In October 2002, Washburn and other city representatives took one of the first steps in the sister city relationship when they visited Anqing during the second annual Huang Mei Opera. At last week’s reception, Washburn and others were invited back for the third annual opera event.

"Calabasas is basically developing its philosophy and its policy toward promoting international exchange in all the areas of educational, cultural, business, governmental and organizational (matters)," Washburn said. "For the business community in Calabasas, we actually open up extremely favorable production potential. . . . In the educational field, (a sister city relationship) promotes international understanding, trade of curriculum and opportunities to visit and learn for students and their families."

The sister city relationship picks up more speed as it becomes more closely knit, Washburn said. After last week’s reception at Calabasas City Hall, Calabasas representatives, according to Washburn, invited the Anqing delegation to meet with other local government officials at a League of California Cities annual installation banquet.

Viewpoint School in Calabasas initiated contact with one of the leading middle schools in Anqing, according to Washburn. The two schools hope to implement an exchange program, he said.

An exchange of children’s books between the schools of Calabasas and of Anqing was also discussed, Washburn said. Additionally, a delegation of top agricultural leaders from Shang Hai toured farms and ranches in Ventura to study American agricultural practices, he said.

Washburn is happy with the progress in the relationship between the two sister cities. He said he anticipates more contact.

––Michael Picarella