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Geography

Massachusetts is located on the eastern coast of the United States. To the east lies the Atlantic Ocean and to the west Massachusetts shares a border with the State of New York.

Capital

Boston

Governor

Mr. Mitt Romney (Jan. 2003- )

Landspace and Population

Massachusetts is the 45th largest state, covering an area of 21,386 km? It has a population of 6,379,304 in 2001, of which 84.5% are Caucasians.

History and Culture

The Massachusetts State Quarter Massachusetts has been at the forefront of American history for well over 250 years. The Pilgrims came ashore in 1620, and Massachusetts became the site of the first Thanksgiving in the fall of 1621. In 1773, history was made when Bostonians had their famous Tea Party, boarding a British tea ship, and tossing the tea into Boston Harbor in protest of unfair taxation. That was the beginning of the American War of Independence. Massachusetts gained statehood in 1788, and there had been 4 US Presidents from Massachusetts: John F. Kennedy, John Adams, John Quincy Adams and Calvin Coolidge. Calvin Coolidge served as Governor of Massachusetts from 1919-1921 and went on to be elected President of the United States in 1923.

                                       
                                                              Massachusetts State Flag

Economy and Industry

With a per capita GDP of $42,519 in 1999, Massachustetts ranked 5th in the United States. Massachusetts is traditionally industrial. Its main traditional industries are manufacturing, shipping, printing, and publishing. And the jewelry industry dates from before the American Revolution. High-technology research and development, finance, and trade are all prominent in the commonwealth's economy. The service sector, in which tourism is primary, now employs over one third of Massachusetts workers.

Establishment of Sister Province/State Relationship

On Nov. 1, 1983, Mr. LIANG Lingguang, Governor of GD and Mr. Michael S. Dukakis, Governor of Massachusetts signed the Agreement to establish GD-Massachusetts Sister Province/State Relationship in Boston.

Friendly Exchanges

Substantial exchanges and cooperation were conducted in economy, education, training and other fields. According to preliminary statistics, currently over 30 Massachusetts companies have set up outlets in GD and contributed to the economic development. From 1999 to 2001, GD sent 29 senior administrators to Umass, Boston for one-year training. As a result of the collaboration between GD Department of Education and universities and companies in Massachusetts in 2002, Massachusetts PTC Company donated advanced educational engineering software to 48 vocational school teachers.

Former Governor's visit to Guangdong

With President of Umass, Boston

Editor: Wing