Friendship City: Lanzhou, Gansu, China

 International exchanges with Lanzhou, including Hachinohe Gas Cor. technical cooperation, youth exchanges and delegations began back in 1983 when the 4th Hachinohe Chinese delegation traveled to Lanzhou.  In April 1998, a sister city agreement between Hachinohe and Lanzhou was signed at Lanzhou,and since then visitations and youth exchange programs between the two cities have continued.

• Incorporated            1941
• Population               About 3,200,000
• Geography               Lanzhou is located in northwest China and is the capital of Gansu Province.  It prospered as a key junction for transportation on the Silk Road, which has its starting point in Xian.  It has one of the largest oil reserves in the country and continues to develop as one of the top 10 industrial cities in China. Lanzhou is at an elevation of 1,600 meters and the Yellow River runs through the city from east and west. The climate is semi arid to semi-humid and is mild all year round.
• Mayor                       Yuan Zhanting

During the 3 days from Monday January 20^th to Wednesday January 22^nd2014, the Lanzhou Education Delegation led by the Dean of Lanzhou Vocational Technical College Wang Deming visited Hachinohe. They paid Mayor Makoto Kobayashi a courtesy visit and participated in a conference discussing future relations between the cities in the education sphere.

The two cities strengthened their friendship through the delegation’s observational visits to one of the city’s middle schools and the Hachinohe National College of Technology.

 Visiting Lanzhou

For 3 days, from July 5^th to July 7^th2012, a 7 person delegation led by the Naraoka City Vice Mayor visited Lanzhou. After a courtesy visit with Yuan Zhanting, the mayor of Lanzhou, the delegation inspected the booth Hachinohe presented at the China Lanzhou Investment and Trade Fair and visited Universities within Lanzhou city. In addition, friendly relations were further deepened after the delegates participated in cultural exchange with calligraphers from the Lanzhou Calligraphy Association.

On Friday September 2^nd2011, the Lanzhou Commerce and Trade Delegation, led by the Lanzhou Commercial Affairs Department Vice- Office Chief Jin Long Yang、visited Hachinohe. They paid Mayor Makoto Kobayashi a courtesy visit, and on the next day (Tuesday September 3^rd) visited businesses and facilities in Hachinohe, staying until the 4^th. The two cities strengthened their ties of friendship through this visitation.

For 3 days from Tuesday July 6^th to Thursday July 8^th2010, a delegation of 12 people from Hachinohe led by Mayor Makoto Kobayashi visited Lanzhou. The delegation paid a courtesy visit to the Lanzhou City Mayor, participated in cultural exchange with calligraphers from the Lanzhou Calligraphy Association、inspected the first booth Hachinohe presented at the Lanzhou Investment Trade Merchant Discussion and visited Lanzhou Language schools that have a history of youth exchange with Hachinohe. Through this visit the friendship between the two cities deepened.

From Friday November 6^th to Sunday November 8^thMr. Fan Wen, the Lanzhou Culture Publications Department Office Chief, leader of the Lanzhou Culture and Friendship Exchange Delegation visited Hachinohe .On the first day in Hachinohe the delegation opened a calligraphy demonstration room for students of Hachinohe Konakano Elementary School and paid a courtesy call on Mayor Makoto Kobayashi.On Saturday the 7^th and Sunday the 8^th the delegation participated in the Hachinohe Lanzhou 25^thAnniversary Friendship and Calligraphy Exchange Event and Exhibit.At this event both cities displayed pieces of calligraphy, opened a calligraphy demonstration room for Hachinohe students and students from Hachinohe Higashi High School ’s Calligraphy club performed a live calligraphy dance demonstration.Through the exchanges the friendship between Lanzhou and Hachinohe was deepened.

On Monday August 24^thMr. Cheng Wei, the Lanzhou Earthquake Department Deputy Office Chief, leader of the Lanzhou Earthquake Technology Exchange Delegation visited Hachinohe and paid a courtesy call on Mayor Makoto Kobayashi.The delegation also took part in the Disaster Prevention System Explanation Conference which was organized with cooperation from companies in the field.On the next day Tuesday the 25^th, the delegation toured the Hachinohe General Disaster and Prevention Practice and the Hachinohe City Museum .As a result of the exchange friendships between Lanzhou and Hachinohe were deepened.

On Thursday April 16^th, Mr. Dong Wensheng, the Lanzhou Citizen Overseas Friendship Association Vice President, the leader of the Lanzhou Government Friendship Delegation visited Hachinohe and paid a courtesy call on Vice Mayor Mikio Nishi.In addition to meeting with officials to discuss event plans for the upcoming 25^thAnniversary Friendship Exchange, the delegation also took a city tour on Friday the 17^th which included a visit to Toubu Sewage Treatment Plant and Hakusan Water Purification Plant.The friendship between Lanzhou and Hachinohe was greatly deepened by the exchange.

In August 2007, 7 delegates from Lanzhou, including Mayor Zhang Jinliang visited Hachinohe. They paid an official visit to Hachinohe City Hall to meet with Mayor Makoto Kobayashi.The delegates city tour included the Hachinohe Food (Hashoku) Center, the Recycle Plaza, and the Tobu Terminal Sewage Treatment Plant.At the welcome dinner party, friendships were deepened and our mutual commitment as sister cities was reaffirmed.