Governor Mike Pence concluded business in Hangzhou today by meeting with prospects interested in investing in Indiana and renewing and commemorating Indiana’s 28-year sister-state relationship with Zhejiang Province.
“Indiana’s sister-state bond with Zhejiang Province has fostered a relationship that’s making an impact across our state,” said Pence. “By renewing this agreement today, Hoosiers unite with the people of Zhejiang Province to support educational exchanges, cultural understanding and more job-creating opportunities. With the interconnected nature of our world today, it is relationships like this one that will continue to promote shared growth both in China and back at home in Indiana.”
The Indiana-Zhejiang Province relationship dates back more than three decades to 1987 when Governor Robert Orr signed a sister-state agreement Zhejiang Governor Shen Zulun in Indianapolis. Today, Governor Pence renewed the sister-state agreement between Indiana and Zhejiang Provincial Secretary Xia Baolong, the highest-ranking government official in the province and chairman of the Zhejiang Provincial People’s Congress, the provincial legislative body. They signed a memorandum of understanding reaffirming efforts to promote economic relations and industrial innovation, as well as cultural, educational and healthcare cooperation and exchanges between the two states.
Governor Pence and the delegation also attended a banquet in the evening celebrating the 28th anniversary of the sister-state relationship. Indiana’s ties to Zhejiang are strong with 12 Hoosier communities cherishing sister-city relationships with communities in Zhejiang Province. Also, some of Indiana’s top universities, including Indiana University, Purdue University and the Rose Hulman Institute of Technology have educational partnerships with Zhejiang Province.