WTCGP Honors Bond with Sister City WTC Tianjin

On April 22, 2024, a significant milestone was reached as the World Trade Center Greater Philadelphia and World Trade Center Tianjin united to fortify the bonds between two dynamic cities. For 45 years, the sister-city relationship between Philadelphia and Tianjin, China, has served as a testament to the power of global connections.

At this crucial meeting orchestrated between the World Trade Centers, members of the World Trade Center Greater Philadelphia (WTCGP) seized the chance to confront the challenges and embrace the vast potential of conducting business in the Chinese market. Among the highlights was a captivating fireside chat featuring Mr. Dezhi Jiang, the esteemed Chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Tianjin Sub-Council (CCPIT Tianjin).

Guided by Chairman Jiang's expertise, attendees delved into the intricacies of China's business landscape, uncovering joint ventures and mutual prospects. The conversation navigated through the complexities of utilizing the CCPIT/WTC channels, unlocking access to a vast network comprising over 50 sub-councils, 600 branch councils, and 20 professional sub-councils nationwide.

The positive energy from the meeting carried over into the following day, where the leadership of the World Trade Center Greater Philadelphia had the opportunity to further cement connections. President and CEO Thomas Young, COO Ron Drozd, and Director of Communications Denzell Wallace engaged in a fruitful lunch meeting with Tianjin's Executive Vice Mayor, Guiping Liu, with both his mayoral and WTC-Tianjin/CCPIT’s trade and investment delegations. WTCGP included member companies  Jeff Ji, President, U-Combination Technology, and Barrett Fisher, President, Van Horn, Metz & Company, to discuss opportunities overseas. The discussions focused on exploring concrete avenues for fostering business growth and investment opportunities between the cities, demonstrating our commitment to the future of this partnership.

The visit concluded with a sister city celebration orchestrated by WTCGP's partner, the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia. Philadelphia's Mayor Cherelle Parker declared Tuesday, April 23, 2024, Tianjin Sister City Day in Philadelphia, emphasizing the enduring relationship and the importance of citizen diplomacy.

Looking forward, WTCGP is planning a visit to Tianjin, China, in November 2024 with a business delegation to deepen their collaboration further and explore new avenues for cooperation. The visit will represent the partnership between the two cities, foster global connections, and increase opportunities for members of WTCGP to grow in the Chinese market.