On July 24, the celebration of the 40th anniversary of Shenyang and Shanghai establishing sister city relations with Chicago was successfully held in Chicago. Mayor Brandon Johnson of Chicago and Vice Mayor Li Yiqun of Shenyang delivered written and video speeches respectively. Over 200 representatives from various sectors attended the event, including Deputy Mayor Kenya Merritt of Chicago, Chinese Consul General in Chicago Wang Baodong, Deputy Secretary-General of the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government Liu Ping, Illinois State Senator Mattie Hunter, Chairman Xue Feng of the China Committee of the Chicago Sister Cities Committee.

Vice Mayor Li Yiqun stated that over the past four decades, Shenyang and Chicago have consistently embaraced the principles of equality, mutual benefit and win-win development. Wide-ranging, multi-tiered exchanges and cooperation across economy, trade, healthcare, culture, education, and youth programs have been carried out, cultivating fruitful outcomes. Standing at a new historical juncture, with greater strategic perspective, broader vision and more concrete measures, the two cities will promote their cooperation to new heights. The two cities will vigorously carry forward the important guidance of President Xi Jinping that the hope of the China-US relationship lies in the people, its foundation is in the grassroots connections, its future depends on the youth, and its vitality comes from subnational exchanges, fostering a solid foundation and providing sustainable impetus for the sound and steady growth of China-US relations.

Mayor Johnson, Deputy Mayor Merritt, Chairman Xue Feng, and others expressed their congratulations on the 40-year remarkable journey shared by Chicago and the cities of Shanghai and Shenyang, describing it as a precious friendship that spans decades, continents and cultures. They expressed their hope that Chicago and the cities of Shanghai and Shenyang will continue to expand their friendly exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation, driving the development of their sister city relationship to new heights over the next 40 years.

Consul General Wang Baodong stated that Shanghai and Shenyang have been sister cities with Chicago for 40 years, with frequent high-level exchanges and steadily deepening economic and trade cooperation, serving as a vivid example of the in-depth and practical collaboration between local governments. Up to now, China and the US have formed 286 pairs of sister provinces/states and sister cities, building an important bridge of mutual understanding between the peoples. It is hoped that both sides will complement each other’s strength and jointly write a new chapter of win-win sub-national cooperation between the two countries.

Located in Illinois, USA, Chicago covers 606.2 square kilometers with a population of 9.5 million, making it the third-largest city in the United States. Shenyang and Chicago formally established sister city relations in 1985.