Meeting to discuss Chinese Sister City

The Sonoma Sister Cities Association will consider its next alliance, an official relationship with the Chinese city of Penglai, at a public meeting on Monday.
“We were visited a few weeks ago by an enterprising and well-prepared delegation from Penglai with a proposal for a sister city relationship,” said Bill Boerum, president of the Sonoma Sister Cities Association. “It is now time to determine if our Sonoma community has the capabilities to take advantage of the opportunities such a relationship presents.”
The proposed partnership largely was based on commonalities of a wine industry and a visitor industry, Boerum said. “For those of us who received the delegation, the proposal was attractive and compelling.”
In addition to promoting friendship and cultural understanding, the document called for an exchange and cooperation in grape planting, wine making and tourism.
The Sonoma Sister Cities Association will hold a public meeting Monday, Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. in the Planning and Training Room at 175 First St. W.
The agenda includes an overview of the Chinese proposal, a discussion of the advantages and benefits of a sister city partnership, and forming a volunteer Organizing Committee. Final approval, based on a Sonoma Sister Cities Association decision to proceed, is up to the Sonoma City Council.
Boerum said. “If you are interested in engaging with the world’s most rapidly growing economy while at the same time participating in the quest for peace one citizen, one community at a time, please join us.”
The existing SSCA partnerships are with: Aswan, Egypt; Greve, Italy; Patzcuaro, Mexico; and Kaniv, Ukraine. Not under the aegis of Sonoma Sister Cities Association is Sonoma’s French Sister City, Chambolle-Musigny.