Seattle Mayor Ed Murray (left) and Deputy Mayor of Shenzhen Tang Jie sign an MOU to build commercial, academic and cultural ties between the two cities at Shenzhen Day event hosted by the Washington State China Relations Council on April 22. Deng Yu / China Daily.

Seattle Mayor Ed Murray welcomed Deputy Mayor of Shenzhen Tang Jie and a delegation of more than 60 business leaders at the Four Seasons hotel in downtown Seattle on Wednesday. The event was part of Shenzhen Day, a program designed to enhance business and trade ties between Shenzhen and Seattle and celebrate new partnerships between civic, academic and business entities in both cities.

"Shenzhen and Seattle have a lot in common and both of us are markets to each other," Tang said in a presentation to the more than 200 guests. "We will sign an MOU on environmental protection with Seattle to show our commitment to sustainable development and we are working together for better progress."

"Both cities are pioneers in low carbon economy and clean energy. There is something in our blood that makes us care about our society and environment. The partnership will not only benefit Shenzhen and Seattle, but the whole human race," said Wang Shi of Vanke, China's largest residential real estate developer.

After Deputy Mayor of Shenzhen Tang Jie signed an MOU on environmental protection and low carbon technology at the event, MOUs to strengthen business ties among business leaders of both cities were also signed.

Intellectual Ventures and China Vanke signed an MOU on a low carbon community partnership to advance the sustainability and quality of life in communities and cities. Intellectual Ventures and Vanke plan to collaborate in support of a new open innovation center that will identify, develop and commercialize technologies for green buildings and other solutions that reduce the carbon footprint of urban areas.

"We value our partnership with Intellectual Ventures because they bring a unique set of knowledge and expertise to this global innovation effort," said Vanke chairman Wang Shi.

Other MOUs signed on site were between UW and Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology Innovation in a higher education partnership, the Gates Foundation and Beijing Genomics Institute in a genomics research partnership and Washington State China Relations Council and the Shenzhen Foundation for international cooperation and exchanges.

The Washington State China Relations Council, founded in 1979 following the normalization of diplomatic relations between the United States and China, is the leading organization engaged in China-related activity in Washington State.

lindadeng@chinadailyusa.com