During a multi-city tour of China in December 2002, Sunnyvale City Council member Fred Fowler and the vice mayor of Pinghu City signed a memorandum of friendly exchange developed by the Chinese officials. Although Fowler signed the memorandum on behalf of the Sunnyvale City Council, council members needed to ratify the agreement, which they did with a 6-1 vote on Jan. 14.

"This agreement is symbolic," Fowler said after the meeting. "It is a tangible sign of the fact that Pinghu City and Sunnyvale have established contact."

Fowler said the city of Sunnyvale was approached last September by America United Vendors—a company that arranges tours of China—with an offer to tour five cities in China. The intention was to assist Silicon Valley companies in establishing business contacts with the Chinese, Fowler said.

Fowler decided to take up the offer on behalf of the city of Sunnyvale. Although Fowler represented the city, he said he personally bore all his expenses for the trip. During the week of Dec. 1, 2002, Fowler led a delegation on a tour of five cities in China: Shanghai, Jinhua, Yiwu, Hongzhow and Pinghu City.

"It was a wonderful and indescribable experience for me," Fowler said during a presentation he gave at the council meeting on Jan. 14.

Fowler explained that Pinghu City, located on the southeast coast in the Zhejiang Province, is in a situation similar to the one Sunnyvale was in about 30 years ago economically and developmentally. There are many similarities between the Bay Area and this particular region in China.

"It would be inexpensive to invest to do business," Fowler added.

Pinghu City has plans to develop a 2,000-acre industrial and manufacturing park.

"They can learn from our experiences," he said.

However, some people disagreed with Fowler.

"It's not obvious that this agreement is a win-win situation," said Werner Gans, a Sunnyvale resident. "The culture over there is different—not bad, just different."

Councilwoman Pat Vorreiter, who cast the lone dissenting vote, agreed with Gans. She said not only is the culture different in China, but also there is a major difference in the relationship between government and business in the two countries.

"I'm concerned about some expectation that might be there," Vorreiter said at the meeting, referring to the memo suggesting a friendly exchange.

According to the agreement signed, Sunnyvale agrees to adhere to the purpose of enhancing the understanding and friendship between China and the United States and agrees to establish a friendly exchange of information and consultation on common concerns or issues. Both sides also agree to develop various exchanges and cooperation in terms of economy, trade, science, technology, culture, education, physical education and health issues. By ratifying the agreement, Sunnyvale agrees to keep regular contact to discuss, consult, cooperate and exchange information on these common issues and concerns.

Although Sunnyvale has hosted and participated in several international exchanges in the past, this agreement with Pinghu City is the first of its kind, Aretha Ferrell-Brown, assistant to the city manager, said she's also exploring implementing a "sister city" program and would come up with recommendations to present to the council this year.

According to Fowler, there is another tour being arranged in March, and the deadline to register is the end of January. Those interested in participating in a tour of China can call the Sunnyvale Chamber of Commerce at 408.736.4971.