Agreement on the Establishment of “The Friendly Exchanges and Cooperation” between the Tianjin Economic - Technological Development Area of Tianjin, PRC and Oakland County of Michigan, USA

In accordance with the principle of Joint Communique on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the United States of America and the People's Republic of China, the Tianjin Economic – Technological Development Area (TEDA) of Tianjin, PRC and Oakland County of Michigan, USA, desiring to promote friendship and to strengthen cooperation, believe it mutually beneficial to establish friendly relations for exchanges and cooperation, and jointly agree upon the signing of this Agreement on the Establishment of The Friendly Exchanges and Cooperation between the Tianjin Economic – Technological Development Area of Tianjin, PRC and Oakland County of Michigan, USA through amicable negotiation.

It is the belief of both parties that there exist many areas of great similarity between our two regions and these shared characteristics provide common ground upon which can be built a solid and long-lasting friendly relationship that will benefit our respective constituencies of citizens and businesses.  Some of these characteristics include the following:

Geographic Size – Tianjin Binhai New Area, where TEDA locates, is 2,200 square kilometers and Oakland County is 2,400 square kilometers in area.
Population – Oakland County has 1,200,000 and Tianjin Binhai New Area has 1,100,000 residents.
Historic Business Sector – TEDA and Oakland County are both strong in automotive.
Future Development – Oakland County and TEDA are both seeking further development of their high-technology sectors.
Global Business – TEDA and Oakland County are seeking foreign direct investment and believe their existing businesses should explore overseas opportunities for growth.
Education – Oakland County and TEDA have strong k-12, university and technical educational systems and believe education is of paramount importance to regional economic competitiveness in the 21st century.
Language and Culture - Many citizens in China speak English and are knowledgable of American culture and Oakland County has begun teaching Chinese language and culture in all of its 28 school districts.
Based on these factors of similar characteristics and in line with the principle of equality and mutual benefit, the parties desire to work together cooperatively in promoting and developing their respective regions.  To maintain close contacts and to facilitate activities, Economic Development Services of Oakland County and the Foreign Affairs Bureau of TEDA are hereby designated as operating departments for the respective parties.

Recognizing mutual interests and in a cooperative spirit, the parties will undertake the following:
1.    Actively promote and encourage exchanges and cooperation in the areas of trade, investment promotion, science and technology, culture, education, etc. 
2.    Support exchanges in the above-mentioned areas and facilitate exchange visits between the two parties.
3.    Regularly exchange information on development to promote understanding and cooperation.
4.    Facilitate the forming of working relationships and partnerships between businesses in the two communities to promote trade, exchange of business information and intelligence and other activities of mutual benefit to those businesses.
5.    Identify and introduce to each other those businesses interested and capable of investing overseas to promote business investment between the respective communities.
This agreement is made in duplicate in the English and Chinese languages, both texts being equally authentic.