2001
In October, Li Zemin, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Director of the Standing Committee of the Provincial People’s Congress, led a delegation of Zhejiang Provincial People’s Congress to visit York Hengbo Region and established preliminary contact with the regional parliament.
2002
In June, the President of York Hengbo District Development Agency Hall visited Zhejiang, and the two sides signed the Memorandum of Cooperation between the two provinces.
In September, a delegation of Zhejiang Provincial Government led by Vice Governor Wang Yongming visited York Hengbo Region and held a “trade and investment environment briefing” there.
2004
In May, Terry Hodgkinson, chairman of the York Hengbo Regional Development Agency, and his delegation visited Zhejiang, signed a memorandum of cooperation between the two provinces with Governor Lv Zushan, and unveiled the China office set up by the region in Zhejiang.
In July, at the invitation of the Regional Development Agency, Governor Lv Zushan led a delegation of the Zhejiang Provincial Government to visit York Hengbo District, and met with the Mayor of Leeds, a sister city of Hangzhou, respectively. He held talks on relevant exchanges and cooperation, and also organized investigation activities.
2005
In February, the British China Trade Association set up an office in Hangzhou and maintained good contact with Zhejiang Provincial Department of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, the Provincial Council for the Promotion of International Trade and various development zones. A number of enterprises from Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province have set up China Trade City in York Hengbo District.
In August, at the invitation of the British Ministry of Health, Zhejiang Provincial Department of Health sent a delegation to visit the UK.
In September, the head of the Zhejiang Office of York Humboldt Region of the United Kingdom went to France to attend the “France Zhejiang Week” held by the Zhejiang Provincial Government in Paris. Governor Lv Zushan met with representatives of European friendly provinces and states of Zhejiang Province, including Coupland.
From October 24 to 27, Martin Havenhand, CEO of the York Hengbo Development Agency in the United Kingdom, and his delegation visited Zhejiang. On October 26, Zhong Shan, Vice Governor, met with Havenhand and his delegation in the first building of the provincial capital. In the meeting, the CEO of Havenhand said that York Hengbo planned to hold the “York Hengbo Week” activity in Zhejiang during the Hangzhou World Leisure Expo in 2006, It is also suggested that Zhejiang consider holding the “Zhejiang Week” in York Hengbo Region in the future, and Wang Xiaofeng, Deputy Director of the Provincial Foreign Affairs Office, will attend the meeting. On the evening of the 26th, Ruan Zhongxun, director of the provincial foreign affairs office, hosted a banquet for the delegation led by Heiwen Hande.
2006
On January 18, the British Northern Ballet from York Hengbo District visited Zhejiang. Governor Lv Zushan, Vice Governor Sheng Changli, Director Ruan Zhongxun and Deputy Director Wang Yin’er of the Provincial Foreign Affairs Office watched the dance drama “La Traviata” performed by the group.
In April, during the Hangzhou World Leisure Expo, the regional government and Leeds jointly held the “York Hengbo Week” activity, and Leeds set up a special exhibition hall in the Leisure Expo Park.
In May, Zhang Mengjin, a member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and Executive Vice Governor of Zhejiang Province, led a delegation of Zhejiang Provincial Government to visit York Hengbo District, and paid a visit to Zade, Director of European Affairs of the District Development Agency, and the main leaders of Leeds Municipal Government. The two sides had friendly exchanges.
2007
In May, Vice Governor Wang Yongming led a delegation from Zhejiang Provincial Government to visit York Hengbo Region of the United Kingdom. Terry Hawkinson, chairman of the Regional Development Agency, briefed the delegation on the regional economic and social development, the development of new energy and the cooperation between the two provinces. At present, more than 20 enterprises in our province have invested in York Hengbo Region.
In December, under the arrangement of York Humboldt Regional Development Agency, the Northern Ballet of the United Kingdom performed the ballet Madame Butterfly in our province. Vice Governor Ge Huijun attended the reception held by the British side, watched the performance, and met with Simon Hill, Director of the Department of Commerce of the Development Agency of York Hengbo Region, and Brian Kresberg, Mayor of Leeds, who were followed up. The performance was supported by the provincial energy group.