The ten-day trip, Cheetham says, led to six agreements between the town and the town’s sister city Xiangfan.

Staples will contact Prime Minister Stephen Harper to report on the progress the Smiths Falls delegation made in China.  Harper and the Chinese president signed an agreement June 24, opening the door to greater tourism potential between the two countries.

Cheetham told councillors and reporters last night he and Staples developed agreements reflecting what the two government leaders signed.

The China trip, Cheetham says, led to agreements on tourism and for 500 students to enroll at Willis College of Business, Health and Technology campuses in Smiths Falls and Ottawa. That, he says, could bring $6.2 million a year to Smiths Falls.

“It’s a major first step towards developing our collaborative relationship with our sister-city and its residents,” Cheetham said.

In addition to the Willis Agreement the Town’s economic development Manager negotiated and signed six additional Memorandums of Understanding covering key economic areas like tourism, investment promotion, education exchanges, realty development and procurement for, and promotion of local industries seeking to do business with China.

“The growth we witnessed in Xiangfan City is absolutely amazing and there is significant opportunity for opening our community to overseas investment in innovative technologies, manufacturing, distribution and renewable energies,” Staples said. “This is only a first step to what is possible through our sister-city platform.”

The China trip followed the signing of a Sister-City Agreement between Xiangfan City and Smiths Falls last October 18, when a delegation of leadership representatives from Xiangfan visited Smiths Falls.