Okahandja, China’s Maqiao revive sister-town partnership

The Okahandja Municipality and Maqiao Town in Shanghai, China, are set to revive their long-standing sister-town partnership, with both sides expected to review their cooperation agreement in September.

Okahandja management committee chairperson Patricia Hawaes confirmed this recently after attending a China-Africa people-to-people exchange workshop in Shanghai from 29 June to 3 July.

“We have not signed a new agreement. We have agreed to arrange another visit where we will review the agreement. It is merely a revival of a dormant sister-city partnership,” she said.

Hawaes added that Maqiao authorities have already requested Okahandja to submit its development priorities ahead of the planned review.

She said the municipality hopes to strengthen cooperation in infrastructure development, smart-city innovation, food security and economic transformation, while also assessing what has been achieved under the previous agreement.

The partnership dates back to December 1998, when Okahandja and Maqiao signed their first friendship agreement to promote cooperation in trade, agriculture, education, science and culture.

According to Maqiao deputy mayor Liu Zhongyan, the relationship was reaffirmed through a draft agreement signed in Shanghai on 8 February 2012, committing both towns to deepen cooperation based on equality and mutual benefit.

The agreement provides for regular exchanges between political leaders and government officials, while encouraging collaboration in economic development, technology, education, healthcare, sport and cultural programmes.

He said the partnership forms part of China’s broader programme of establishing long-term cooperation between Chinese municipalities and local authorities in partner countries, including Namibia.

Maqiao Town, located in Shanghai’s Minhang District, is known as a fast-growing technology and cultural hub and is renowned for the ancient Maqiao Culture discovered in 1959, which reflects the area’s rich historical heritage alongside its modern development.

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