Lord Mayor leading delegation to Cork’s twin city Shanghai

The Lord Mayor of Cork Dan Boyle is leading a delegation to China, visiting Cork’s twin city of Shanghai, and partner city of Shenzhen.

Healthcare, business, and education links between the two cities will be explored during the trip, which concludes on Saturday.

The delegation will meet with the consul general of Ireland in Shanghai, David Murphy, as well as with state agencies in Ireland House to discuss opportunities for Cork city.

Ireland’s ambassador to China, Dr Nicholas O’Brien, who previously served as consul general in Shanghai and concluded the original sister city agreement between Cork and Shanghai 19 years ago, will join the delegation.

Opportunities to develop the programme of training and exchange in primary care between the HSE in Cork and Kerry and the Shanghai Municipal Health Commission will be pursued.

Agreement

This follows the conclusion of a new agreement between the agencies, signed in Cork city Hall in the presence of the Chinese ambassador this year.

Senior representation from the HSE, as well as Cork’s higher-education institutions, are also participating in the visit.

Additionally, business engagements have been organised at the Chinese International Import Expo, including with Cork Chamber of Commerce and several business chambers in Shanghai.

As part of their trip, the delegation will visit Shenzhen, the first in-person engagement with the city since before the pandemic, and focus on exploring opportunities for Cork business in light of Shenzhen’s international reputation in the manufacturing sector.

The visit will include an engagement with PCH International, a Cork-based firm with operations in the Chinese city, and engagement with Shenzhen City Hall on areas of future collaboration, in advance of a return visit to Cork by a Shenzhen city delegation at the end of November.