World Trade Center St. Louis, Mayor & Washington University School of Medicine Visit China
ST. LOUIS, Mo.: World Trade Center (WTC) St. Louis Executive Director Tim Nowak and WTC St. Louis Deputy Director, Stella Sheehan, and a local delegation including St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson recently conducted a trade mission to China. The group visited St. Louis’ sister-city of Nanjing, China in celebration of the 40th anniversary of being sister-cities with the region. Leaders from the Washington University School of Medicine joined the group in the Chinese city of Suzhou to commemorate a recent partnership with Huici Health Management Co.
The visit followed WTC’s successful Growing Global event, an annual luncheon and awards program, which this year focused on trade relations with China. Experts from China along with U.S. business experts shared insight and offered those in attendance a glimpse into what the future holds for St. Louis and China.
“It is my honor to keep this important tradition alive,” Mayor Krewson said, noting every St. Louis Mayor has visited Nanjing since the establishment of St. Louis and Nanjing becoming sister cities. “This is my first international trip since becoming Mayor of St. Louis. I am tremendously grateful for the enduring relationship with Nanjing that began in 1979 and the opportunity to celebrate the 40-year anniversary. Together, our job is to care for, nurture and grow this relationship.”
“Our relationship with China is important to the St. Louis region and it was great for our delegation to travel with this group of leaders to further strengthen our relationship,” said Nowak.
During the visit, Mayor Krewson gifted the city a 7-foot tall bronze statue in the likeness of St. Louis Cardinals pitcher, Adam Wainwright. A second statue, that of a Nanjing baseball player, will be installed in St. Louis next to Busch Stadium.
“While the two statues will be separated by more than 7,000 miles, they will connect our two cities with important symbolism,” Mayor Krewson said.
After visiting Nanjing, the group, along with leaders from the Washington University School of Medicine, visited the Chinese city of Suzhou. Based upon foundational work by the World Trade Center St. Louis, the School of Medicine in St. Louis has formed a collaboration with China-based Huici Health Management Co. to help with physician training and the design of a new medical center — including a 1,000-bed hospital.
“We are enthusiastic about collaborating with our colleagues in China,” said Paul J. Scheel, MD, associate vice chancellor for clinical affairs and CEO of Washington University Physicians. “There is a strong demand for private sector health care in China, and we’ll be providing our expertise on hospital design, the purchase of new technologies and physician training – all with the aim of improving health care to patients in China.”
As part of the collaboration, a referral system will be developed for patients from China to come to Washington University School of Medicine for specialized medical care to treat complex medical conditions.
“One of the major focuses of the relationship with Huici is the opportunity to partner with Siteman Cancer Center,” said Timothy J. Eberlein, MD, the Spencer T. and Ann W. Olin Distinguished Professor, the Bixby Professor, and director of Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine. “This partnership will help Huici develop state-of-the-art cancer services in Suzhou. Additionally, Siteman will share its exceptional prevention programs, which will be used to lessen the burden of disease in China. This partnership will benefit people in the entire province surrounding Suzhou and is an example of the international impact of Siteman.”
“It is my great honor that Mayor Krewson came to Suzhou to participate in our seminar. In ancient Chinese saying, autumn is the harvest season. The Mayor’s arrival has laid a solid foundation for the further cooperation between Huici and Washington University School of Medicine. This seminar has yielded fruitful results and deepened the good communication between Suzhou and St. Louis,” said Lyu Chengli, CEO of Huici Health Management.
The health and welfare of people truly transcends international politics,” Mayor Krewson said. “On our part, over the past 2-years, the World Trade Center St. Louis has been working with Washington University School of Medicine, Siteman Cancer Center and Suzhou based Huici Health Management to enhance our global cooperation. This collaboration aims to improve the health of the world by fostering discovery, cooperation and shared knowledge.”
About World Trade Center St. Louis: World Trade Center St. Louis facilitates international business growth and enhances global competitiveness throughout the St. Louis region, Missouri and Southwest Illinois. As the international division of St. Louis Economic Development Partnership and one of more than 300 World Trade Centers Association members, it brings together a strong system of business and government agencies to grow trade and investment and enhance global connectivity.
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