Two cities ready to embrace
By Enid Chen
Photos by Yao Fan

上周,荷兰祖特梅尔市市长J.B.淮耶,率代表团来厦进行了为期三天的访问.而在此之前,两市刚签订了建立友好城市关系的意向书.访问期间,双方就开展文化, 教育, 科技, 贸易等各领域的交流与合作进行了深入的讨论,为两市正式建立友好城市关系做好最充分的准备. 10日,淮耶市长接受了本报记者的专访.

Impression about Xiamen

Q: Welcome to Xiamen, Mr. Mayor.
A: Thank you. I feel very honored being invited to Xiamen. I took office as the mayor of Zoetermeer on March 1 earlier this year. I began to understand the special relationship between Zoetermeer and Xiamen very quickly. This is my first time to Xiamen. I came because I want to see the real Xiamen myself and look for more possibilities for cooperation between our two cities and deepen the relationship.

Q: What's your impression about the city on your first visit?
A: I'm very impressed with several things. I arrived in Guangzhou on November 8 and the next day I reached Xiamen. Even compared to Guangzhou, Xiamen is just as modern. There are a lot of disciplines here and people are very hard working. As a Special Economic Zone, which is geographically opposite to Taiwan, the city is rising at a fast speed.

I paid a visit to Xiamen University and the atmosphere was very good there. I learned that it's one of the best universities in China and it's even world famous, so we are considering a program for the exchange of students between the universities of the two cities. I believe they can learn a lot from each other.

Doing business in Zoetermeer

Q: So far, how many companies from Xiamen have made investments in Zoetermeer?
A: Up to now, there is only one company from Xiamen that has decided to make an investment in Zoetermeer. But we are hoping that more will follow since Zoetermeer has now developed programs especially for new international businesses basing themselves in Zoetermeer. A good example of this is the soft-landing (软着陆) packet, with an aim to help international companies settle in a new environment. The packet consists of providing practical guidance on how to find the way to successful business with regards to city affairs and procedures, and delivering workshops on the history of the Netherlands, the social and political culture, doing business in the West and a Dutch language course.

Q: What are the advantages of doing business in Zoetermeer?
A: Above all, Zoetermeer is a young and dynamic city, which enjoys a strategic geographic location in Europe. It is located in the center of the most economically developed area in the western part of the Netherlands. The neighboring city Hague where the Dutch government resides is only 10 km away. The world's largest seaport - Rotterdam, and one of the busiest airports in Europe - Amsterdam airport, are accessible within half an hour of Zoetermeer. Therefore, it's the gateway to Europe.

Expectation for the visit

Q: What are your goals and expectations for this visit?
A: First of all, I believe learning from each other is vital to both of us. The two cities have had successful experiences in different areas and we hope to share the experiences to benefit both parties.

Secondly, we hope to enhance our friendly relationship through more cultural exchanges. In May this year, artists from Zoetermeer visited Xiamen, which embarked us on cultural exchange activities. During this past summer, I was very glad to meet a group of artists from Xiamen in Zoetermeer. I received a painting, which was a gift from the Xiamen artists' delegation. The painting was very beautiful. We also bought several others. We look forward to more cultural communication and cooperation in the future.

Thirdly, as above-mentioned, we are seeking opportunities for cooperation in education. The program for university student exchange will be very good for the new generations in both cities.

Fourthly, more international trade between the two cities is expected. Zoetermeer can export some advanced technologies to Xiamen. For example, Xiamen and other parts of China are currently booming with extraordinary growth. However, one thing that should not be neglected is the subsequent damage from pollution that has been done to the environment. In Zoetermeer, we have worked out some technologies to reduce pollution to a minimum level. Usually it costs more to repair than to prevent these things beforehand.

Q: Xiamen and Zoetermeer began its friendly communication in 2001. When can the two cities become sister cities officially and formally?
A: Actually, the connection of the two cities should be more than the official paper. The real relationship should also go between the social communities in the two cities. We have been in constant touch during the past three years and are making joint efforts for the final establishment of a friendly relationship. Every time, we step even further than before. When the right time comes, the official paper will finally be signed.

My Xiamen
By Mike Selig



Helena Lepp is from a small city in the province of Saskatchewan, Canada and is now an English teacher at WECL English College in Xiamen.

1. How long have you been in Xiamen?
I worked at Yantai WECL English College for the 2003-2004 school year and have been in Xiamen since this September 2004.

2. What did you do before you came to China?
I worked for a funded agency as an out patient counselor for an addiction center. Most of my work was with alcohol and other drug addictions but also with gambling addiction.

3. What do you do in your free time?
I like to hike and just walk to see different things in Xiamen. I also am a knitter for myself and for family and friends.

4. What do you like best about life here in Xiamen?
I am enjoying seeing the progression-the new growth and expansion. I also enjoy just spending time with my students.

5. What do you like best about Xiamen?
I like the variety of trees-the flowering ones and the different palm trees.

6. If there was one thing that you could change about Xiamen what would that be?
I would move WECL closer to the beautiful beach - a nice daily walk on the beach everyday would be great!

7. Compared with other cities in China, what do think are the differences between Xiamen and them?
I like the milder climate, the better garbage disposal and the beaches are better for swimming.

8. Who is your favorite author and what books do you like to read?
I enjoy many authors and I especially like reading historical books - the history of different people, places and events. Tolstoy is my favorite author.

9. What is your favorite quotation and piece of advice?
"There is a time for every season." Accept the things you cannot change.