Shanghai Delegation Celebrates 45 Years of Sister-City Partnership

The Bay Area Council on Tuesday (July 22) welcomed a high-level Shanghai delegation, led by Liu Ping, Deputy Secretary-General of the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, and facilitated by Consul General Zhang Jianmin, aboard the Historic Klamath for an event to mark the 45th anniversary of the San Francisco–Shanghai sister-city relationship. Among the highlights:

• President and CEO Jim Wunderman and Chief Operating Officer John Grubb welcomed the delegation alongside executives from Council member companies.  
• Discussions focused on expanding opportunities for Bay Area businesses in Shanghai, especially in technology, life sciences, and clean energy.  
• Wunderman highlighted the Council’s long-standing China platform—established in Yangpu District in 2010—and invited companies to join November’s California Pavilion at the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai.

The delegation’s visit builds on recent cross-Pacific engagement, including Los Angeles and Palo Alto representatives’ participation in Shanghai’s International Friendship Conference in late May. Earlier in June, the Council supported the 2025 China-California Business Forum in Los Angeles, which brought together nearly 500 guests including a Chinese delegation of 150+ top business leaders and officials from dozens of provinces and cities, with Shanghai representation among them. And the Council is again organizing the California Pavilion and leading a delegation to Shanghai in November for CIIE.

To engage in the Council’s China work, please Contact Jennifer Zou, Senior Vice President of Global Initiatives & Head of Operations, China.