Milwaukee’s friendly relationship with Ningbo, China

Ningbo, located in Zhejiang Province in eastern China on the East China Sea, is one of China’s oldest cities.  The city’s name translates as “serene waves,” which helps to explain Ningbo’s status as China’s second largest port.  Ningbo has a city population of about 2.2 million.

Milwaukee formally established a friendly relationship with the city of Ningbo, China on May 11, 2006, with the signing of an agreement at Milwaukee's City Hall by Mayor Tom Barrett (left) and Ningbo Mayor Mao Guanglie (right) . The agreement called for establishment of business, education and cultural exchanges. 

A pair of carved stone lions, presented by Ningbo to the City of Milwaukee in July 2008, graces the entrance to the Zeidler Municipal Building, 841 N. Broadway.

Several trade and business delegations from Ningbo have presented trade seminars in Milwaukee under the auspices of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce and the Milwaukee China Business Council. 

Visitors from Ningbo attend a Milwaukee Bucks game.

he University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Ningbo University have collaborated under the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding, including hosting exchange students from Ningbo University at UWM.Delegates from Ningbo University have visited Marquette University’s School of Education.A trade mission sponsored by Governor Jim Doyle and the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce led a trade conference in Ningbo. A cultural exchange delegation sponsored by the Greater Milwaukee Committee sent a representative to Ningbo.Milwaukee has had a booth at the Ningbo’s largest annual trade show in 2008, 2009 and 2010. 

Milwaukee's booth at the 2010 Ningbo Consumer Products and International Investment Trade Fair.  

Tim Sheehy (right), president of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, signed a cooperation agreement with his Ningbo Chamber of Commerce counterpart in March 2010.

Learn more about Ningbo

The Hangzhou Bay Bridge, opened in 2008, connects Ningbo and Shanghai.  At 22 miles in length, it is the world’s longest trans-oceanic bridge and the second longest bridge in the world.

China’s oldest surviving library, Tian Yi Chamber, is located in Ningbo.  It was built in 1561.

Ningbo’s municipal government has an English-language web site.

Contact information