Photos: Mayor Richard M. Daley Welcomes International City Leaders to First-Ever Global Cities Forum

CHICAGO - Chicago, Bogota Sign Sister Cities Partnership

Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and Chicago Sister Cities International welcomed mayors and municipal leaders from around the world for the first-ever Chicago Global Cities Forum on April 27-29.

To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: www.prnewswire.com/mnr/chicagosistercities/38130/

(Photo: www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090501/NY08997 )

The 2009 Forum opened on Monday, April 27, with the Richard J. Daley Urban Forum, a public event, followed by two days of private discussion focused on pathways to economic recovery, urban planning and human capital initiatives. During this three-day summit, visiting municipal leaders presented their city’s own innovative strategies and exchanged ideas and “best practices” on a number of topics.

Nearly 30 mayors and municipal leaders attended the Forum including those from Moscow, Paris, Dubai, Bangkok, Beijing, Bogota, Reykjavik, Athens and Prague.

“As mayors and leaders of municipal government, we share the same challenges. To secure our individual city’s economic futures, we must remain committed to fully participating in the global economy and continue to overcome those challenges which have become greater in recent months,” Mayor Daley said.

“The world has shifted from a collection of regional or national economies to a truly global economy. The future well-being of cities depends on how we plan for and deal with global inter-connection. We must make cultural connections and expand our working relationships with global partners,” he said.

On Tuesday, April 28, Mayor Daley and Mayor Samuel Moreno Rojas of Bogota, Colombia, signed the first Sister Cities partnership between Chicago and a South America city.

“Bogota becomes our 28th Sister city, and the first of what I hope will be many others in South America,” said Mayor Daley, noting that more than 40,000 Colombian-Americans live in the Chicago area.

A committee of Chicago volunteers is expected to generate business, education and cultural affairs exchanges between the two cities. Mayor Moreno Rojas reflected on the many shared experiences between Chicago and Bogota, noting that Chicago’s bid to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games had many similarities to Bogota’s bid for the 2015 Pan American Games.

Specific outcomes of the Chicago Global Cities Forum discussion sessions are available at www.chicagosistercities.com/wp/news/chicago-global-cities-forum/

MEDIA CONTACT:

Natalie Campbell, Chicago Sister Cities International, +1-312-744-2172 office, +1-312-718-1186, mobile, natalie.campbell@cityofchicago.org

Lisa Xia, Chicago Sister Cities International, +1-312-744-9181, office, +1-614-439-8480, mobile, lisa.xia@cityofchicago.org

Source: City of Chicago

Natalie Campbell, +1-312-744-2172 office, +1-312-718-1186, mobile, natalie.campbell at cityofchicago.org, Lisa Xia, +1-312-744-9181, office, +1-614-439-8480, mobile, lisa.xia at cityofchicago.org, both of Chicago Sister Cities International ; Photo: https://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090501/NY08997