Translate the text from English to Welsh.



 
I recently undertook a three\-day visit to the USA, travelling to Atlanta, Georgia and Birmingham, Alabama to promote our economic ties and strengthen our unique cultural bonds. The visit included the signing of an International Friendship Pact between Wales and Birmingham, and meetings with businesses and economic institutions from the region. I also met with prominent US, State and City officials and leaders from Alabama’s civil rights movement. As part of the visit, I spoke alongside US Supreme Court Justice, Ketanji Brown Jackson, at the invitation of the 16th Street Baptist Church as they commemorated the 60th anniversary of the racist bombing of their church; an act of hate which claimed the lives of four young girls. 


The links between Wales and Birmingham are steeped in history and stem from the Welsh public’s response to the bombing on 15 September 1963 in which four young black girls were murdered and the church suffered significant damage. As a gesture of solidarity with the African American community in Birmingham, the people of Wales raised funds for the creation of a stained\-glass window for the church, designed by Welsh artist John Petts and depicting a black crucified Christ. The ‘Wales Window’ was dedicated in 1965 and is still a central part of the 16th Street Baptist Church community.  The Welsh contribution to the ceremony also allowed us to pay tribute to the enduring legacy of the campaign for racial justice that Birmingham was so prominent in advancing and to reflect upon the way in which their sacrifices have inspired people of colour across the world, including here in Wales.   


On arrival in Atlanta, I met with the British Consul General to discuss the economic landscape in the southern states and the opportunities that exist to boost trade and investment links with Welsh businesses. This was followed by a meeting with Airbus, a key investor in Wales, to understand how the sites in Broughton and Alabama exchange best practice, innovation and talent. I was particularly interested in hearing how we can work together to promote STEM careers and workforce development opportunities in North Wales, identifying several opportunities which can be taken forward.  I also had the opportunity to visit Moneypenny, a Welsh customer communications company with its US headquarters in Atlanta, take a tour of its new facility and explore what advice Moneypenny has for other Welsh companies seeking to establish an operation in the USA. I met with Welsh Government envoy, La\-Chun Lindsay, to discuss the work she has been doing on behalf of Wales and our engagement strategy for the US for the year ahead. My final engagement in Atlanta was a roundtable discussion on inclusive growth and minority entrepreneurship, hosted by the Progressive Policy Institute, with insights provided by entrepreneurs, industry experts, and officials from local to federal government. 


After travelling to Birmingham, the focus for Friday was on the commemoration service for the 60th anniversary of the church bombing and meeting the friends and families of victims. It was an honour to be able to provide a message of friendship and solidarity from Wales at a service of truly national significance in the USA. Wales and Birmingham have forged a long\-standing and meaningful relationship over the last six decades, culminating in the signing of an International Friendship Pact with the city of Birmingham. The Pact will foster stronger connections enhancing cultural exchanges, supporting opportunities for stronger economic growth, and creating mutual benefits for both regions across the key areas of Arts and Culture, Life Sciences and Healthcare, and Education.


As a symbol of our friendship, Mayor Randall Woodfin and I also dedicated four trees in Kelly Ingram Park, symbolising the memory of the four girls who were murdered \- Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Morris Wesley, Carole Robertson and Denise McNair. As part of the tree dedication, I unveiled a commemorative plaque which marks the 60years of friendship between Wales and Birmingham.  I also had the honour of visiting the home of Lisa McNair, sister of Denise, to present a gift to the family on behalf of the people of Wales.


I attended an economic roundtable at the Innovation Depot in Birmingham with local economic leaders to identify potential areas of economic collaboration and partnership opportunities, and to discuss how we might monitor the progress of the International Friendship Pact. We agreed ways of working and identified promising opportunities for early activity to be taken forward over the coming weeks. I also met Tquila Automation, a Texas\-based automation consultancy and investor in Wales, which recently expanded to Birmingham, AL. Throughout our discussions with business voices, experts and elected officials, I focussed primarily on Wales’ areas of comparative market strength in the US market – such as life sciences, tech, advanced manufacturing and creative industries – and lessons on what works in helping people from disadvantaged backgrounds to become successful entrepreneurs.


On the final day in Birmingham, I participated in a panel session at the historic Sloss Furnaces with leading activists from the Birmingham civil rights movement. This was an opportunity to discuss lived experiences and the actions that we are taking in Wales and Alabama to combat racism – including the Anti\-Racist Wales Action Plan.  The session was also attended by young people from the Urdd, who were in Birmingham to learn about civil rights and promote their 2023 Peace and Goodwill message about anti\-racism.


Finally, there was an opportunity to bring together partners who had supported the visit and developed the Friendship Pact. Birmingham Sister Cities hosted a reception for key stakeholders across business, education, and culture in the Birmingham and Wales partnership. The event was an opportunity to spend time with young volunteers from the Urdd alongside civil rights activists and the partners responsible for delivering our collaborative activities. The International Friendship Pact and the surrounding events reaffirmed the joint commitment at both the political and community level to drive the relationship forward.  


These engagements were followed by a visit to the Senedd by the US Ambassador to the UK, H.E. Jane D. Hartley, on 20 September. Ambassador Hartley discussed the Birmingham Commemoration and expressed interest in supporting efforts to strengthen the bonds between both communities to help sustain a positive legacy for people in Wales and the USA.







Translation:


 
Yn ddiweddar, fe wnes i ymweld â'r Unol Daleithiau am dri diwrnod, gan deithio i Atlanta, Georgia a Birmingham, Alabama i hyrwyddo ein cysylltiadau economaidd ac atgyfnerthu ein cysylltiadau diwylliannol unigryw. Roedd yr ymweliad yn cynnwys arwyddo Cytundeb Cyfeillgarwch Rhyngwladol rhwng Cymru a Birmingham, a chyfarfodydd gyda busnesau a sefydliadau economaidd y rhanbarth. Cwrddais hefyd â swyddogion blaenllaw yr Unol Daleithiau, y Dalaith a'r Ddinas ac arweinwyr o fudiad hawliau sifil Alabama. Fel rhan o’r ymweliad, siaradais ochr yn ochr â Barnwr Goruchaf Lys yr Unol Daleithiau, Ketanji Brown Jackson, ar wahoddiad Eglwys y Bedyddwyr 16‌th‌ Street wrth iddynt goffáu 60 mlynedd ers bomio hiliol eu heglwys, gweithred o gasineb a hawliodd fywydau pedair merch ifanc. 


Mae'r cysylltiadau rhwng Cymru a Birmingham yn llawn hanes ac yn deillio o ymateb y cyhoedd yng Nghymru i’r bomio ar 15 Medi 1963 lle cafodd pedair merch ifanc ddu eu llofruddio a chafodd yr eglwys ddifrod mawr. Fel arwydd o undod gyda'r gymuned Affricanaidd\-Americanaidd yn Birmingham, cododd pobl Cymru arian ar gyfer creu ffenestr wydr lliw ar gyfer yr eglwys, a ddyluniwyd gan yr artist Cymreig John Petts gan ddarlunio Crist croeshoeliedig du. Cafodd 'Ffenestr Cymru' ei chysegru ym 1965 ac mae'n dal yn rhan ganolog o gymuned Eglwys y Bedyddwyr 16th Street. Roedd cyfraniad Cymru i'r seremoni hefyd yn ein galluogi i dalu teyrnged i waddol parhaus yr ymgyrch dros gyfiawnder hiliol yr oedd Birmingham mor flaenllaw wrth ei hyrwyddo, a myfyrio ar y ffordd y mae eu haberthau wedi ysbrydoli pobl o liw ar draws y byd, gan gynnwys yma yng Nghymru.     


Ar ôl cyrraedd Atlanta, cwrddais â Chonswl Cyffredinol Prydain i drafod y dirwedd economaidd yn nhaleithiau'r de a'r cyfleoedd sy'n bodoli i hybu cysylltiadau masnach a buddsoddi gyda busnesau Cymru. Dilynwyd hyn gan gyfarfod ag Airbus, buddsoddwr allweddol yng Nghymru, i ddeall sut mae'r safleoedd ym Mrychdyn ac Alabama yn cyfnewid arferion gorau, arloesedd a thalent. Roedd gennyf ddiddordeb arbennig clywed sut y gallwn gydweithio i hyrwyddo gyrfaoedd STEM a chyfleoedd i ddatblygu'r gweithlu yng Ngogledd Cymru, gan nodi nifer o gyfleoedd y gellir eu datblygu. Cefais gyfle hefyd i ymweld â Moneypenny, cwmni cyfathrebu cwsmeriaid o Gymru gyda'i bencadlys yn yr Unol Daleithiau yn Atlanta, mynd ar daith o amgylch ei ganolfan newydd ac edrych pa gyngor sydd gan Moneypenny i gwmnïau eraill o Gymru sy'n ceisio sefydlu canolfan yn yr UDA. Cyfarfûm â llysgennad Llywodraeth Cymru, La\-Chun Lindsay, i drafod y gwaith y bu hi yn ei wneud ar ran Cymru a'n strategaeth ymgysylltu ar gyfer yr Unol Daleithiau ar gyfer y flwyddyn i ddod. Fy nghyfarfod olaf yn Atlanta oedd trafodaeth ford gron ar dwf cynhwysol ac entrepreneuriaeth leiafrifol, a gynhaliwyd gan y Sefydliad Polisi Blaengar, gan gynnwys mewnwelediad gan entrepreneuriaid, arbenigwyr diwydiant, a swyddogion o lywodraeth leol i ffederal. 


Ar ôl teithio i Birmingham, roedd y ffocws ddydd Gwener ar y gwasanaeth coffa 60 mlynedd ers bomio'r eglwys, a chwrdd â ffrindiau a theuluoedd dioddefwyr. Roedd yn anrhydedd cyflwyno neges o gyfeillgarwch a chydgefnogaeth o Gymru mewn gwasanaeth a oedd o arwyddocâd cenedlaethol gwirioneddol yn yr Unol Daleithiau. Mae Cymru a Birmingham wedi meithrin perthynas ystyrlon a hirsefydlog dros y chwe degawd diwethaf, gan arwain at arwyddo Cytundeb Cyfeillgarwch Rhyngwladol gyda dinas Birmingham. Bydd y Cytundeb yn meithrin cysylltiadau cryfach, yn gwella cyfnewid diwylliannol, yn cefnogi cyfleoedd ar gyfer twf economaidd cryfach, ac yn creu buddion i'r ddau ranbarth ar draws meysydd allweddol y Celfyddydau a Diwylliant, Gwyddorau Bywyd a Gofal Iechyd, ac Addysg.


Fel symbol o'n cyfeillgarwch, cysegrodd y Maer Randall Woodfin a minnau bedair coeden ym Mharc Kelly Ingram, sy'n symbol o'r pedair merch a lofruddiwyd \- Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Morris Wesley, Carole Robertson a Denise McNair. Fel rhan o'r seremoni o gysegru'r coed, dadorchuddiais blac coffa sy'n nodi'r 60 mlynedd o gyfeillgarwch rhwng Cymru a Birmingham.  Cefais hefyd yr anrhydedd o ymweld â chartref Lisa McNair, chwaer Denise, i gyflwyno anrheg i'r teulu ar ran pobl Cymru.


Es hefyd i ford gron economaidd yn y Depo Arloesi yn Birmingham gydag arweinwyr economaidd lleol i nodi meysydd posibl o gydweithio economaidd a chyfleoedd ar gyfer partneriaeth, ac i drafod sut y gallem fonitro cynnydd y Cytundeb Cyfeillgarwch Rhyngwladol. Cytunwyd ar ffyrdd o weithio a nodwyd cyfleoedd addawol i gynnal gweithgarwch cynnar dros yr wythnosau nesaf. Cwrddais â Tquila Automation, ymgynghoriaeth awtomeiddio yn Texas a buddsoddwr yng Nghymru, a ehangodd yn ddiweddar i Birmingham, AL. Trwy gydol ein trafodaethau gyda lleisiau o fyd busnes, arbenigwyr a swyddogion etholedig, canolbwyntiais yn bennaf ar feysydd o gryfder cymharol Cymru yn y farchnad yn yr Unol Daleithiau – megis gwyddorau bywyd, technoleg, gweithgynhyrchu uwch a diwydiannau creadigol – a gwersi o ran yr hyn sy'n gweithio wrth helpu pobl o gefndiroedd difreintiedig i fod yn entrepreneuriaid llwyddiannus.


Ar y diwrnod olaf yn Birmingham, cymerais ran mewn sesiwn banel yn y Ffwrneisi Sloss hanesyddol gydag ymgyrchwyr blaenllaw o fudiad hawliau sifil Birmingham.   Roedd hwn yn gyfle i drafod profiadau byw a'r camau rydym yn eu cymryd yng Nghymru ac Alabama i frwydro yn erbyn hiliaeth – gan gynnwys Cynllun Gweithredu Cymru Gwrth\-hiliol.  Yn y sesiwn hefyd roedd pobl ifanc yr Urdd, a oedd yn Birmingham i ddysgu am hawliau sifil a hyrwyddo eu neges Heddwch ac Ewyllys Da 2023 am wrth\-hiliaeth.


Yn olaf, roedd cyfle i ddod â phartneriaid ynghyd a oedd wedi cefnogi’r ymweliad a datblygu'r Cytundeb Cyfeillgarwch. Cynhaliodd Birmingham Sister Cities dderbyniad ar gyfer rhanddeiliaid allweddol ar draws busnes, addysg a diwylliant ym mhartneriaeth Birmingham a Chymru. Roedd y digwyddiad yn gyfle i dreulio amser gyda gwirfoddolwyr o’r Urdd ochr yn ochr ag ymgyrchwyr hawliau sifil a’r partneriaid sy'n gyfrifol am gyflawni ein gweithgareddau cydweithredol. Roedd y Cytundeb Cyfeillgarwch Rhyngwladol a'r digwyddiadau cysylltiedig yn ail\-ddatgan yr ymrwymiad ar y cyd ar lefel wleidyddol a chymunedol i yrru'r berthynas yn ei blaen.  


Ar ôl y digwyddiadau hyn, ymwelodd Llysgennad yr Unol Daleithiau i’r DU, Jane D. Hartley, â’r Senedd ar 20 Medi. Bu'r Llysgennad Hartley yn trafod Coffáu Birmingham a mynegodd ddiddordeb mewn cefnogi ymdrechion i gryfhau'r cysylltiadau rhwng y ddwy gymuned i helpu i gynnal gwaddol cadarnhaol i bobl yng Nghymru ac UDA.