Red flag day

The flag of the People’s Republic of China flew Monday over City Hall as the Sonoma Sister Cities welcomed a delegation from the Penglai region of China. A premier grape-growing and wine-producing area, Penglai has proposed a sister-city relationship with Sonoma.
The visiting delegation included the mayor and officials from the area’s wine bureau and foreign trade office.
“This is a significant first step in exploring a relationship with the world’s third largest economy,” said Bill Boerum, president of Sonoma Sister Cities (SSC). “It’s the type of global citizen diplomacy envisioned by President Eisenhower over 50 years ago to promote world peace, one individual, one community at a time.”
The Chinese contingent met with Mayor Ken Brown, Mayor Pro Tem Steve Barbose, Boerum and other Sonoma representatives including Wendy Peterson, executive director of the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau. Fred and Nancy Cline of Cline Cellars, who Boerum said were instrumental in making the connection between Penglai and Sonoma, also participated.
At a meeting at Sonoma City Hall, the Chinese delegation presented a draft agreement between the two cities. In addition to promoting friendship and cultural understanding, the document called for “an exchange and cooperation in grape planting, wine making and tourism.” Sherri Ferris, a SSC board member and protocol expert, said several of the Penglai group spoke English, so communication between the groups was excellent. The meeting, which included the presentation of a Sonoma City flag from Brown to his Chinese counterpart, was followed by a “friendship lunch” at the Swiss Hotel.
Approval of a relationship is subject to recommendation by the Sonoma Sister Cities Association and approval by the Sonoma City Council.