As of Monday, April 23, 2012
© Copyright 2013
Gwinnett Daily Post
DULUTH -- Just two weeks ago, Gwinnett officials made business connections in "the Chicago on the Yangtze River."
On Monday, a delegation from the western China city of Chongqing made a return visit.
"Sincerely, I hope this event can promote bilateral investment ... in Chongqing and America," said the city's deputy general-secretary Yan Xiaoguang, through a translator, at a Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce breakfast Monday. "Let us seize the opportunity and step forward hand-in-hand into a bright future."
Along with a nine member delegation, featuring the office director of a leading Chinese automobile company and vice presidents of a machinery and electronics group, Yan made the trek to metro Atlanta to promote the world's largest city, which has a population of 32 million.
The city is a key party of China's "go west" strategy, and has valuable air, water and land transportation to link it to the world, including a recently complete rail line to Rotterdam.
"We have the best opportunities in China," Jun Lin, a native of Chongqing who now lives in metro Atlanta, said in introducing the city.
Gwinnett Chairwoman Charlotte Nash, who traveled as part of a delegation from Gwinnett to China earlier this month, said the timing for the group's trip here was "fortuitous." While there are no immediate announcements of business ties, she said there could be some soon.
"It's unusual for these groups to come to Atlanta," she said, pointing to more frequent trips to places like New York and Los Angeles. "These kind of things take time to nurture. ... (But) they are very focused on opening up their area for western trade. the timing should be very good."
Nash declared Yan an honorary citizen of Gwinnett County and presented him with a collection of American coins, while Yan gave Nash a gift of a painted wooden vase.
More like this story
- Hi-Tech Fair provides opportunity for Gwinnett in China ( April 12, 2012 )
- Leaders travel to China to recruit international business ( April 10, 2012 )
- Chamber opens new branch in China ( July 12, 2010 )
- Chamber gets office in China ( January 23, 2010 )
- Chamber to lead trip to China in July ( June 14, 2010 )
Comments
kevin 1 year ago
can someone tell us how much this trip to China cost the taxpayers? We sure would like to know this. Why doesn't the GDP report all the details of the story?
teelee 1 year ago
The Post picks and chooses what they want to report depending on their agenda.
RiggaTony 1 year ago
"Nash declared Yan an honorary citizen of Gwinnett County"
So now we have an elected official circumventing citizenship laws and legitimizing another illegal alien. Typical of the slide into the liberal abyss this country seems to be taking.
Cleanupguy 1 year ago
Maybe more like the legitimization of 3 million illegals by Ronald Reagan.
teelee 1 year ago
The Reagan days were the best ,it was nice to be able to be proud of your country.
Cleanupguy 1 year ago
Me too - my favorite parts (along with the legalization of 3 million illegals) was the 10.4% unemployment rate, increased taxes 7 of his 8 years, and sending billions to the mujahidin (aka Bin Laden) in Aghanistan to fight the Russians. Might want to check out what his OMB Director David Stockman has to say about the aftermath.
RiggaTony 1 year ago
I'm not sure what you base your statement on, Cleanupguy, but Reagan was the greatest Conservative of this century. I sincerely doubt such a Republican icon would be responsible for what you are claiming.
kevin 1 year ago
Great things have happened when we had a GOP president AND a GOP controlled Congress. Just look at what we have succeeded in doing with 2 yrs of a Democratic president and a Democratic controlled Congress; a disaster for us and our grandchildren, plus loss of so many freedoms.
Cleanupguy 1 year ago
Absolutely! After all, by percentage the greatest increase in the deficit was under Reagan, and the greatest in dollars was under Bush Junior. The disaster of which you speak was the latter.
RiggaTony 1 year ago
That simply cannot be true. I saw on the news (real news, not LAMEstream media), that Obama increased the deficit more than all other presidents combined. Obama hates America and wants to spend us into oblivion.
Cleanupguy 1 year ago
It's not terribly difficult to fact check, should you choose to.
LoganvilleResident 1 year ago
I hope that your post was meant to be satirical in nature. The Chinese people are desperate to spend money on American culture. It fascinates them and because of the uptick in their economy, they are able to spend a ton of money. This trip will pay off huge dividends for our local economy.
Last time I checked, making Yan an "honorary citizen" was just a symbolic gesture of good-will. We want the Chinese people doing business with us.
dentaldawg83 1 year ago
boy, I bet the taxpaying Chinese citizens are really mad about this!
Mack711 1 year ago
The Chineese are here for one reason. Set up business or invest in Gwinnett in order to send profits from these business or investments to send back to China. Why can we not do business with companies that are US based and keep our $$$$ here in America, the Chinese will not. They own most of our debt now this. An honoray citizen of Gwinnett? Who gave her that power? What a joke.
teelee 1 year ago
I wonder if they will hire non Asians?
NewsReader 1 year ago
I too would like to know what this ridiculous trip cost the taxpayers. GDP, help us out here...
BuzzG 1 year ago
Maybe Gwinnett can send them some of our many illegal aliens. Then we will have their jobs for ourselves and our children. Just try getting a summer job for an American college kid.
WantingFacts 1 year ago
For those of you who wanted to know how much this cost the taxpayers:
"The trip won’t cost Gwinnett taxpayers anything, said Joe Sorenson, the county’s communications director. Masino said much of the cost is being paid for by Chinese hosts. The chamber also is pitching in, and some delegates are paying their own way for part of the trip".
Of course, what is NOT included in his statement is the fact that Gwinnett County gives taxpayer dollars to the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce. So if we give money to the Chamber and the Chamber pitches in to pay for Nash's trip, it doesn't cost the taxpayers anything for Nash's trip? Can Joe Sorenson and Nick Masino please explain how this is a true statement?
kevin 1 year ago
Like I believe what Joe Sorenson would say!! Give me a break. The fact remains, why are we searching out China money when we need to be creating businesses with Americans? That is the main problem with this picture.
kevin 1 year ago
Come on Nash and BOC. Why are you all not trying to do something to create more American owned businesses? Are you really a Republican, or only in name. I am starting to think you are more Liberal by the way you have operated Gwinnett County. DO we need to start investigating who you associate with? Come on GDP. Camie needs to get on the ball here.
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