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LIMERICK CITY COUNCIL has signed a memorandum of ‘friendship and co-operation’ with a Chinese city with a population of eight million.
The deal, signed this week with a delegation from the municipality of Nanjing, will forge new links between the cities in fields including trade, culture and education.
The memorandum will see the countries keep “keep in constant friendly contact, inform each other to major events and activities and exchange information on respective interests” while also facilitating visits between the two cities.
The deal was signed in China this week by a visiting delegation from Limerick, led by city mayor Jim Long, during a reciprocal visit following a visit of officials from Nanjing to Limerick last December.
Long said the deal would help Limerick to compete on the same levels as Dublin, which has similar links with Beijing, and Cork which has close ties with Shanghai.
Among the matters discussed during the visits were the potential training of Chinese pilots at Shannon, and links between software companies and the National Technological Park in Plassey.
“There is the potential now to advance this chance to develop Limerick’s links with a huge Chinese market,” Long said, “and we have to embrace it with open arms and encourage further economic links between our respective cities.”
The deal will be of particular benefit for the University of Limerick, which stands to benefit from links with no fewer than 41 universities in Ninjing – which between them cater to some 600,000 students.
UL president Professor Don Barry said the university’s partnerships with leading Chinese universities was “testament to its reputation as an innovative and pioneering leader in education”.
“The exchange of students between UL and China will have benefits for our students, our region and our continued growth,” he added.
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Should Limerick Mayor now be called Lim Jong?
Limb gone more like
More like limb gone
So bad he had to try make it twice…
Perhaps the Chinese can loan us some military guys! A Tibet style crackdown on the Keanes & Collopys!
Don’t forget the worst offenders…the McCarthy Dundons!! Wouldn’t mind seeing the Chinese put them in their place!
That would be the hope Brian. But the question is, are parish pump councillors the ones to do this Job? And why do we have to twin to pitch for jobs? We don’t. IDA and Enterprise etc should be doing this. Not some small time Councillors.
IDA and Enterprise are actively engaged in this area but you also need to send out the usual official delegation to pose for photos and the usual shite that goes on with these things. People only focus on the TD and councilors on the front page of the paper but fail to see the other members of the delegations that usually accompany them. The work that goes on in the background is never acknowledged. If the cost of sending these people out there is made up for by increased jobs and investment then I wouldn’t begrudge them their junket as long as there is proper over sight of expenditure and results.
Smart move for limerick.
All the best knives are made in china
God, that joke’s getting old.
Oh where are you from Justin? Just need to know that so I can make judgements about you. Grow up, you troll!! And to get back to the news story, great development for my city! :)
Limerick’s one university to Nanjing’s 41……I know who got the raw end of the deal here…lol
And now begins the Junket for the council and TDs. Holiday working of course paid for by the tax payer.
Yeah, God forbid that they might get a bit of business of inward investment from a city of 8 million people or from a Provence of 78 million people who have a GDP about 4.5 times greater than ours. Perish the thought that they might encourage high spending tourists to fly into Shannon and Ireland and spend money here. That would never do now would it.
My big fat gypsy takeaway
have your say