Zheng Dewei (second from left), president of Nanjing Association of Industry and Commerce, presents a gift to the Nanjing Chamber of Commerce in USA at the opening ceremony held on Oct 31 in Sunnyvale, California. LIA ZHU / CHINA DAILY

A chamber of commerce was established on Saturday in Silicon Valley with the efforts of Nanjing overseas Chinese and the Nanjing Association of Industry and Commerce.

The Nanjing Chamber of Commerce in USA (NJCCUS) was intended to serve as a platform for both Chinese and US enterprises, and also a bridge to link Silicon Valley and Nanjing and the United States and China, said Lin Qing, president of NJCCUS.

A delegation of more than 20 Chinese entrepreneurs from Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu province, attended the opening ceremony in Sunnyvale, California.

"Many overseas Chinese elites are Nanjing natives. We hope they can form such kind of associations to make contributions to their motherland as well as the countries they live in," said Zheng Dewei, president of the Nanjing Association of Industry and Commerce and head of the delegation.

A historic city that served as a capital for six dynasties, Nanjing is now a hub of One Belt, One Road, a development strategy that refers to the New Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

Despite the economic slowdown, Nanjing has maintained 10 percent annual growth with its GDP projected at $15 million this year, Zheng said.

"San Francisco is a financial and cultural center of the US' West Coast, and Silicon Valley is a powerhouse of innovation. We hope the Nanjing Chamber of Commerce will promote exchanges between Chinese and US entrepreneurs," he said.

Wang Junming, counselor of science and technology with the Chinese consulate general in San Francisco, said the Nanjing Chamber of Commerce would be different from other commerce associations because it was "innovation-driven".

"In Silicon Valley live many overseas Chinese scientists and engineers. The high-tech development here would give innovative wings to the chamber of commerce," Wang said.

He said he hoped the Nanjing Chamber of Commerce could serve as a platform for entrepreneurs from both sides to exchange and share experiences and scientific and technological achievement so they could pursue a win-win outcome through cooperation.

"The Nanjing Chamber of Commerce was established at the right time when China has just outlined its 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020)," he said. "The China Dream can’t be realized without the concerted efforts from the overseas Chinese."

US Congressman Mike Honda, representing California's 17th Congressional District, which includes Silicon Valley, also sent his congratulations to the Nanjing Chamber of Commerce through a representative.

The establishment of the Nanjing Chamber of Commerce would help promote the economic and cultural development between the US and Nanjing and also recognize the opportunity for collaboration and prosperity between the Nanjing overseas Chinese, Chinese enterprises in the US and the US investors to develop the friendship and understanding between the US and China, he said in the letter of congratulations.