Eighth Mayors Conference
Host City
Harbin, China (Mayor: Cao Guangliang)
Venue
Friendship Palace Hotel
Period
January 15-18, 1998
Participants
49 cities from 10 countries
Edmonton, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Prince George, St. Albert, Winnipeg (Canada), Beijing, Changchun, Dalian, Daqing, Harbin, Heihe, Hohht, Jiamusi, Jilin, Jixi, Manzhouli, Mudanjiang, Qingdao, Qiqihar, Shenyang, Urumchi, Xi’an, Yakeshi, Yichun (China), Nuuk (Greenland), Kemi, Oulu (Finland), Aomori, Asahikawa, Niigata, Sapporo, Takikawa (Japan), Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia), Nordkapp, Tromsø (Norway), Chita, Dudinka, Inta, Khabarovsk, Levozeko, Murmansk, Norilsk, Strezhevoy, Vladivostok (Russia), Kiruna, Luleå (Sweden), Anchorage, Minneapolis (United States)
Main Theme
Let Us Unite to Create a Winter World Kaleidoscope!
Themes and reporters
1. “What Winter Means to Senior Citizens and Children”: Cities of Winnipeg, Luleå and Harbin
2. “Develop and Exploit Winter Tourism Resources”: Cities of Anchorage, Shenyang, Tromsø and Sapporo
3. “Promoting the Culture of Ice and Snow”: Cities of Aomori and Kiruna
New Board of Directors
President
Mayor of Sapporo (re-elected)
Vice Presidents
Mayor of Shenyang
Mayor of Edmonton
Mayor of Tromsø (re-elected)
Standing Directors
Mayor of Harbin
Mayor of Luleå (newly elected)
Mayor of Kiruna (newly elected)
Non-Standing Director
Mayor of Stockholm
Auditor
Mayor of Anchorage (newly elected)
Reports
1. WinterNet Subcommittee by Edmonton
The WinterNet Subcommittee reported that they had finally finished their role as technical know-how provider. At the meeting, the mayors approved a motion that the association secretariat (Sapporo) take over the responsibility of information exchange among member cities via Internet if no other city would take over the role of the WinterNet Subcommittee Secretariat.
2. Waste Recycling Subcommittee by Luleå
3. Economic Expansion Subcommittee by Tromsø
4. Winter Recreation and Tourism Subcommittee by Anchorage
Selection of the Host City of the 2002 Conference of Mayors and Showcase
Aomori, Japan, was chosen as the host city for the tenth Northern Intercity Conference of Mayors and the Winter Cities Showcase for 2002.
Resolutions
1. To merge the secretariats of the International Association of Mayors of Northern Cities (IAMNC) and of the International Winter Cities Committee (IWCC). Details of the merger will be discussed by the two secretariats.
2. IAMNC will promote contact and information exchange with the United Nations and other international organizations.
3. Our appreciation is extended to the city of Edmonton for its leading role in the development of WinterNet. Member cities should actively utilize the research results posted on the WinterNet.
4. The tenth International Northern Intercity Conference of Mayors will be hosted by the city of Aomori, Japan in 2002.
5. Our thanks are expressed to the citizens of Harbin for their support in hosting this conference.
6. Our thanks to Mayor Cao Guangling and Deputy Mayor Yue Yuquan of the city of Harbin, the People’s Republic of China. At the same time the Association paid a tribute to Harbin People’s Municipal Government for preparing this Conference.
7. The Association paid tribute to the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of the People’s Republic of China for issuing postcards to over 20 countries in commemoration of the Conference.
Winter Cities Showcase
1. Sixth International Winter Expo
(91 booths from 8 countries/15,000 visitors)
Winter items, snow removal equipment and technology, winter building materials and energy-saving technology were exhibited. Exhibitors included 16 companies and 10 organizations from Hokkaido, Japan.
2. Seventh Winter Cities Forum
Specialists from various countries gathered to discuss architecture and building materials, food culture and storage of food, use of ice and snow resources, public health, and environmental problems and sustainable development.
Events held in conjunction with the Conference
1. Activities on ice, winter swimming in the Songhua River and snow sculpture exhibition on Sun Island
2. Ice Lantern Festival and the International Ice Sculpture Competition
3. Exhibition of Chinese postage stamps commemorating the Mayors Conference
4. Concert commemorating the Mayors Conference
Member Cities of the International Association of Mayors of Northern Cities
21 cities from 9 countries (As of January 18, 1998)
| Austria | Innsbruck |
| Canada | Edmonton, Winnipeg, Yellowknife, Prince George |
| China | Changchun, Harbin, Jilin, Jiamusi, Qiqihar, Shenyang |
| Greenland | Nuuk |
| Japan | Aomori, Sapporo, Takikawa |
| Mongolia | Ulaanbaatar |
| Norway | Tromsø |
| Sweden | Kiruna, Luleå, Stockholm |
| United States | Anchorage |
