MONTEGO BAY, St James — The Chinese city of Hangzhou and Montego Bay are to sign a Sister City relationship in China next month, more than ten years after the two cities established a friendly relationship.

Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Charles Sinclair made the disclosure last Friday at a special sitting of the St James Parish Council called to present the key to the resort town to Dr Ti Chee Cai Qi, an advisor to the Provincial Government of Zheijang, China.

“This relationship was established to promote economics development between both cities with a focus on industry trade and tourism,” Sinclair told the meeting.

Sinclair also lauded the efforts of the members of the Twinning Commission for their invaluable contribution in fostering the relationship.

In presenting the key to the city to Dr Cai Qi, Sinclair said while his visit does not represent the most significant visit by a member of the government of the People’s Republic of China to Montego Bay, the council

believes that he is deserving of the honour.

Dr Cai Qi, he said, has served in several significant capacities including:

* Mayor of Sanming City from 1997- 1999;

* Mayor of Quzhou City from 1999-2002;

* Party Secretary of Quzhou – 2002 -2004;

* Party Secretary of Taizhou – 2004 – 2007; and

* Mayor of Hangzhou from 2007 until July, 2010.

“He recently demitted office as the Mayor of Hangzhou and is now the Advisor to the Provincial Government of Zheijiang Province,” Sinclair noted.

On accepting the key, Dr Cai Qi expressed gratitude to the council and the people of Montego Bay for their ” kind gesture.”

” I still believe that I can do more even more so I will be working ever harder to strengthen our relationship,” he told the meeting.

Dr Cai Qi was accompanied on the visit by several members of the Chinese government including Liu Kan, the Charge d’Affaires at the Chinese Embassy.

A donation of books was presented to the Saint James Parish Library during the meeting.