Check out the press release below:
MAYOR NUTTER SIGNS AGREEMENT WITH SISTER CITY MAYOR OF TIANJIN, CHINA
Other Philadelphia institutions strengthen partnerships in Tianjin with new agreements
Philadelphia, December 4, 2012 – Mayor Michael A. Nutter participated in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony with Mayor Huang Xingguo of Tianjin, China, a Sister City of Philadelphia. The MOU encourages trade development and education cooperation as well as promotes the "Sister City Fellowship Program," which will focus on personnel development between the two cities.
Fox Chase Cancer Center, Drexel University, White and Williams, LLP and the Philadelphia Orchestra also signed MOUs with partner institutions in Tianjin.
"Establishing new ties and bolstering existing relationships are important steps for Philadelphia's economic development," said Mayor Nutter. "By working with our partners in China, especially in Tianjin, and sharing best practices and experiences, both sides can continue to develop and grow. I look forward to these relationships continuing in the future and am excited to see what results they will yield."
Fox Chase Cancer Center signed an MOU with the Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute to establish a sister-hospital relationship to further develop oncology expertise in Tianjin and throughout China. Some of the focuses of this new agreement will include aligning Tianjin with world-class Western cancer care, training Tianjin students, fellows, interns and nurses at Fox Chase as well as establishing and expanding clinical trials programs in Tianjin.
"We're very excited to be signing a memorandum of understanding with Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital," says Michael V. Seiden, M.D., Ph.D., President & CEO of Fox Chase Cancer Center.
"These kind of sister-hospital relationships, which align the skills and resources of cancer research, diagnosis and treatment resident at Fox Chase with the extraordinary growth of cancer treatment and diagnostic requirements in China and other nations, help us expand our Center's mission of prevailing over cancer internationally," says Kurt Schwinghammer, Ph.D., Vice President of Research & Development Alliances at Fox Chase and Head of Fox Chase International.
Drexel University and Nankai University, located in Tianjin, signed an MOU to "to promote the advancement of scholarship, innovation, and learning through student and faculty exchange, research, joint publication, and service." The universities will collaborate on and exchange materials related to research and education, jointly participate in conferences and engage students and faculty in education and community service.
"Urban universities, such as Drexel and Nankai, are critical drivers of innovation and economic growth as well as key partners in building and strengthening the local and global nexus of collaboration" said Drexel President John A. Fry. "Drexel is very proud to be a part of Mayor Nutter's delegation to Tianjin and to make our growing partnership with Nankai University a part of Philadelphia's Sister City Program."
White and Williams, LLP reaffirmed an already existing with the Winners Law Firm. The firms signed a restated strategic alliance. The original alliance was signed in Philadelphia in February and witnessed by Mayor Nutter. The new agreement expands the focus of cooperation in the areas of clean-technology, including the further development of commercial protocols for the protection of intellectual property jointly developed between U.S. and China companies and institutions.
"The law firm of White and Williams is honored to be included in this historic event. Our longstanding relationship with the City of Tianjin is far-reaching and expands upon the Strategic Alliance we entered into with the Winners Law Firm in February of this year, which Mayor Nutter graciously hosted at City Hall. We look forward to growing these relationships with Philadelphia's Sister City of Tianjin and with the businesses and institutions represented in both cities," said Gary P. Biehn, Chair of Business Department for the China Business Group and International Group, White and Williams, LLP.
The Philadelphia Orchestra, which has a long and illustrious history with China, signed an MOU to continue to explore ways to work together in the future with the city of Tianjin and the Tianjin Grand Theater, where The Philadelphia Orchestra made its Sister City debut in 2012.
Said Philadelphia Orchestra President and CEO Allison Vulgamore, "The City of Tianjin was incredibly hospitable and gracious during our visit last spring. In particular, it was a great pleasure to meet with Tianjin Mayor Huang and Tianjin Grand Theater President Qian Cheng. We look forward to the flowering of our future relationship with Philadelphia's Sister City."
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