INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS & FRIENDSHIP CITIES COMMITTEE

 

MINUTES

 

Thursday, 2016 November 24

 

An Open meeting of the International Relations & Friendship Cities Committee was held in the Council Committee Room, Burnaby City Hall, 4949 Canada Way, Burnaby, B.C. on Thursday, 2016 November 24 at 12:00 PM.

 

 

1.

CALL TO ORDER

 

 

PRESENT:

 

 

 

STAFF:

 

 

Councillor P. McDonell, Chair

Councillor J. Wang, Vice Chair

Councillor P. Calendino, Member

 

Mr. Aaron Fourt, Community Engagement Manager

Ms. Eva Prior, Administrative Officer

Ms. Nikolina Vracar, Administrative Officer

 

The Chair called the Open meeting to order at 12:11 p.m.

 

2.

MINUTES

 

 

A)

Minutes of the Open meeting of the International Relations and Friendship Cities Committee held on 2015 April 29      

 

 

MOVED BY councillor CALENDINO

SECONDED BY councillor  WANG

 

THAT the minutes of the Open International Relations & Friendship Cities Committee meeting held on 2015 April 29 be adopted.

 

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.

CORRESPONDENCE

 

 

MOVED BY councillor WANG

SECONDED BY councillor CALENDINO

 

THAT the correspondence be received.

 

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

A)

Correspondence from Zhengzhou Municipal People's Government

Re: 2017 Zhengzhou International Garden Expo         

 

 

Correspondence was received from Mr. Cai Yuqi, Director of Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of Zhengzhou Municipal People's Government, regarding the 11th China (Zhengzhou) International Garden Expo that will be held in September 2017 in Zhengzhou.  Mr. Yuqi invited City of Burnaby to showcase the City at the Garden Expo.

Mr. Yuqi also suggested that the two cities strengthen cooperation in the areas of culture and education, science and technology, city management and other areas that promote development of the two cities. 

The Committee noted that the City of Burnaby does not generally participate in exhibitions. 

Staff advised that the Burnaby Board of Trade and Tourism Burnaby might be able to send materials to the Expo and the City could send materials featuring its Eco-sculpture program. 

Arising from discussion, the following motion was introduced:

MOVED BY COUNCILLOR CALENDINO

SECONDED BY COUNCILLOR WANG

 

THAT this item of correspondence be REFERRED to staff to investigate participation required, including costs and personnel, and benefits of participation.

 

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

 

 

 

 

 

B)

Memorandum from Community Engagement Manager

Re: Agenda Items Related to IR & FCC Meeting           

 

 

A memorandum was received from the Community Engagement Manager providing information on January 2017 visit by a five-member delegation from the Alibaba Group, leading Chinese E-Business, to the City of Burnaby.  

 

Arising from discussion, the following motion was introduced:

 

MOVED BY COUNCILLOR CALENDINO

SECONDED BY COUNCILLOR WANG

 

THAT staff continue to work with the Burnaby Board of Trade to arrange meetings and information sessions with the Alibaba Group delegation.

 

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

Further to the memorandum received from the Community Engagement Manager, discussion regarding Summer 2017 student exchange program with Sister of Hwaseong ensued. 

 

Under the student exchange program, students from Hwaseong would visit Burnaby and students from Burnaby would visit Hwaseong for two weeks next summer to participate in cultural and educational programs.

 

The Committee received on-table correspondence from the City of Hwaseong providing additional details regarding the 2017 student exchange program (e.g., dates for each exchange, the number of participants and parties responsible for expenses).

 

The Committee noted that middle school students are identified as participants in the exchange program and asked for clarification of the age of students who would participate in the exchange program.   

 

Staff undertook to contact the City of Hwaseong and clarify participating students’ age.

           

            Arising from discussion, the Committee introduced the following motion:

 

MOVED BY COUNCILLOR CALENDINO

SECONDED BY COUNCILLOR WANG

 

THAT this item of correspondence be REFFERED to staff to provide a report on accommodations and costs associated with the student exchange program.

 

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

 

4.

NEW BUSINESS

 

 

There were no items of new business brought before the Committee at this time.

 

5.

INQUIRIES

 

 

There were no inquiries brought before the Committee at this time.

 

6.

ADJOURNMENT

 

 

MOVED BY councillor calendino

SECONDED BY councillor wang

 

THAT this Open Committee meeting do now adjourn.

 

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

The Open meeting adjourned at 12:32 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

________________________

________________________

Nikolina Vracar

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER                  

Councillor Paul McDonell

CHAIR

 

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