Monday’s meeting between Charles County government officials and five district government officials from China was characterized by County Administrator, Paul Comfort, as a “first date” between the two governments. The delegation from Pingjiang district, Suzhow city, Jiangsu Province came to begin the exploration process before a potential “sister city” agreement is formed between the two areas.
According to Board of Commissioners President, Wayne Cooper (D – at large), the Board decided a year ago to pursue a sister city relationship with China, a country they thought of as “up and coming”. When Comfort arrived in the county last summer, he had contacts to China through former colleagues. The county administrator got the process started.
Commissioner Reuben B. Collins II (D – district 3) explained that Monday was the first step in a careful process of deciding how well the two areas match before making a formal arrangement. The next step is for the commissioners to pay a return visit.
Commissioner Gary V. Hodge (D – district 4) added that the county’s relationship with China is only exploratory at this time. If the two governments find enough areas of mutual interest then they may pursue opportunities for economic and cultural exchange. Hodge also recognized China’s human rights and trade imbalance issues as matters for discussion. He explained that it could take three years to learn enough to decide if the areas are well suited to each other and if they want the relationship.
A local relationship with China is not without precedence. Hodge pointed out that the state of Maryland has had economic ties with China since 1981. Cooper said that the Board and the Economic Development Department are interested in placing a Pingjiang business here and a Charles County business there.
“I can guarantee that Charles County businesses want to work with China,” said Dan Barufaldi, Executive Director for the Charles County Chamber of Commerce, to the delegates during a dinner meeting at the end of the visit. Barufaldi expressed his hope that the two areas could form a mutually equitable sister city agreement.
Prior to arrival, the delegates expressed an interest in learning about the County’s education and transportation systems. Based on his understanding of conditions in China, Comfort also added to the list, briefings on reusing treated wastewater (effluent), county government structure and county economic growth opportunities.
The official visitors spent two hours with county officials late Monday afternoon, touring through North Point High School and observing several of its functions. Cooper mentioned that the delegates felt NPHS was on the scale of some of China’s universities.
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If the tour as a whole was a “first date”, the final half, dinner ala the North Point culinary arts department, most closely resembled a blind date with all the awkwardness such meetings often entail.
In preparation for the visit, Comfort received a three-page ema
