[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 3587]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 WELCOMING THE CITY OF THOUSAND OAKS' SISTER CITY, SHIBEI DISTRICT OF 
               QINGDAO OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JULIA BROWNLEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 27, 2014

  Ms. BROWNLEY of California. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize 
the City of Thousand Oaks, California, who will be welcoming its sister 
city, Shibei District of Qingdao of the People's Republic of China, for 
their first visit to the Conejo Valley on February 27, 2014.
  Formally approved on July 9, 2013, the Thousand Oaks City Council 
unanimously accepted the concept of Thousand Oaks, California and 
Shibei District, Qingdao as sister cities. The relationship between the 
two cities has a mission to create an environment for promoting and 
developing effective and mutually beneficial cooperation between the 
citizens of both municipalities. It is a harmonious relationship in 
which both parties conduct reciprocal cultural, educational, business, 
professional and technical exchanges. The friendly cooperation between 
both cities is based on the principles of mutual respect of the 
partners and the sovereignty of each state.
  With a large Asian-American population presence in the Conejo Valley, 
community leaders, in collaboration with the Center for Asian 
Performing Arts, conceptualized the idea of a sister city relationship 
with China to promote Asian culture and support the cultural exchange 
between East and West.
  There are many shared interests and commonalities among the two 
cities which makes it an ideal partnership. While Thousand Oaks was 
named among the top ten safest large cities in the United States, 
Shibei District, Qingdao was named among the top ten livable cities 
with the most beautiful bay in China. Additionally, both cities have 
developed in the areas of technology.
  Among the delegation members that will visit the Conejo Valley are 
the mayor of the Shibei District, the directors of the Bureau of 
Tourism and of the Bureau of Economic Development, and the deputy chief 
of staff for the Department of Commerce. On this momentous occasion, 
the mayors of both cities will sign documents declaring their formal 
relationship.
  I want to congratulate Thousand Oaks and Shibei District on this 
momentous occasion and look forward to the future accomplishments and 
successes that this relationship will foster.

                          ____________________