DENG VISIT OPENED DOOR FOR MARITIME TRADE

Former Seattle mayor prepared documents on governing city as gift for Chinese delegation

Editor's note: Last year marked the 40th anniversary of the launch of China's reform and opening-up policy. China Daily profiles people who experienced or witnessed the important drive.

When Deng Xiaoping visited Seattle in early 1979, right after China and the United States established diplomatic relations on Jan 1 that year, Charles Royer was beginning his second year as mayor of the northwestern US city.