Among others, the agreement states that "the two cities agree that on the basis of unity, equality and with the aim of achieving mutual benefits, both parties will endeavour and keep close cooperation between the representatives of the city administrations, and will gradually set in place a system whereby regularly exchanging experiences and will encourage co-operation and exchange of experiences in all the areas within the scope of city administration; will encourage companies to establish direct contacts and put efforts to establish co-operation between the ports and the chambers of commerce, work on the establishment and improvement of economic and commercial flows, encourage the exchange of programmes in the field of culture, education and tourism, will incessantly put efforts and find new forms of cooperation thus deepening mutual understanding between the two nations; will encourage the exchange in the field of sports, this in particular relates to sailing, and will share the valuable experience in the development of sailing in both cities".
The agreement signing ceremony was also attended by the ambassador of the Republic of China to the People's Republic of China, Ante Simonić.
During the official visit to Qingdao, mayor Obersnel took part in "The 2010 Olympic Sailing City Mayors & International Sailing Summit Forum") within the 2010 Qingdao International Sailing Week. In the Forum, further to the Rijeka City mayor, and the hosts from Qingdao, participated the mayors and representatives of Kiel in Germany, Korean cities Busan, Incheon and Ulsan, Brest in France, Southampton UK, as well as the representatives of most important world sailing organisations. This was an excellent opportunity for cities to exchange their experiences in the organisation of large sports sailing events and the development of sports tourism, all based on sustainable development. On this occasion mayor Obersnel presented the development possibilities of Rijeka, with an emphasis on the potentials of the port of Rijeka, investments in sports infrastructure and Rijeka experience in organising major sports competitions.
Friendship between Rijeka and Qingdao was initiated in 1998, when Rijeka was visited by a delegation coming from this Chinese port city with about 7 million inhabitants occupying an area of 10.654 sq. km in the Shandong Province. In a sequence of good relationships with the People's Republic of China and by mediation of the embassies of both countries, on 7 June 1998, on the occasion of the visit paid by a delegation of the city of Qingdao to Rijeka, a letter of intent was signed concerning the establishment of friendly relationships between the two port cities. A year later, a group of businessmen led by the Rijeka mayor visited Qingdao and on that occasion on 11 July 1999, the Agreement was signed whereby friendship was established. A number of contacts have been realised since then in terms of mutual visits, organising exhibitions, taking part in city manifestations, thus deepening friendly cooperation every year more and more.
During the sojourn in China, the delegation of the City of Rijeka also visited Dalian, the city with which friendly connections have been established since 2006. Further to city officials, in Dalian, mayor Obersnel also met with the deputy general manager of the "Dalian Travel & Tourism Bureau", Mr Zhang Feng and his associates, and on that occasion it was agreed that during the large exhibition dedicated to the tourism industry which is to take place in October of the current year in Dalian, where the Croatian Tourist Board will take part as well, a cooperation agreement between the Dalian Tourism Bureau and the City of Rijeka Tourist Board will be signed.
During the sojourn in Dalian a visit was organised to the High Tech Zone – an impressive technology park stretching over a surface of 150 sq. km.
The visit to China included also the official visit to Peking and the embassy of the Republic of Croatia to the People's Republic of China. In the course of the official meeting with ambassador Ante Simonić, the possibilities of strengthening cooperation in the field of the economy and tourism between China and Croatia, i.e. Rijeka, were discussed. In this light, mayor Obersnel met with the consultant of the City of Shanghai for overseas investments, Gang Liu, a member of the NPC and the vice chairman of the PRC Law Committee, professor Li Chong An, the representatives of the Peking University Hospital, the head of the Department of Pediatrics, Jiong Qin and Mrs. Qiudan Sun, head of the Peking University Health Science Centre.
This meeting also served to prepare the announced visit of a delegation of the city of Ningbo to Rijeka at the beginning of November of the current year. The city of Ningbo is interested in developing closer cooperation with Rijeka and in particular with the Rijeka port.
(T.M.)