US heartland pumped up for more opportunities in China

Four mayors from the United States' heartland made the most of their first trip to China, building personal connections and learning about a range of business opportunities.

Mayors Jim Brainard of Carmel, Indiana; Tito Brown of Youngstown, Ohio; Rich Carr of Maumee, Ohio; and Paul TenHaken of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, made the weeklong visit recently. The trip was organized by the United States Heartland China Association, or USHCA, and the China-US Exchange Foundation.

USHCA is a nonprofit organization with members in 20 US states from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico.

Led by Bob Holden, a former governor of Missouri as well as chairman and CEO of USHCA, the mayors visited Beijing, Guangzhou and Shenzhen.

In a previous interview with China Daily, Holden said he wanted the mayors from the US heartland region to sit down with their Chinese counterparts to create ways to keep the relationship going and find projects mutually beneficial for the people in both countries.

"We are a nation of great power; China is a rising power. How do we bring both cultures together so we can both continue and both be successful? We are working with cities and states to have them actively involved in this," Holden said.

In China, they visited businesses from varied industries such as poultry and automobiles, along with startups and high-tech companies, such as drone maker DJI. They also met with people in the education sector.

Sioux Falls' Mayor TenHaken, in a statement issued after his visit to China, said that "it is time that Sioux Falls looks at developing deeper, more consistent relationships with key Chinese communities and businesses".

One of the largest employers in Sioux Falls is Chinese-owned Smithfield Foods. The mayor believes that the Sioux Falls economy would be strengthened by deeper cultural and business relations with key Chinese partners.

During his visit, TenHaken said he noticed that US-China trade tensions affect both countries. "Every business I talked with－from drone manufacturers to poultry processors－discussed their desire to see a swift end to these trade tensions," he said.

The US and China subsequently reached a phase one trade deal agreement on Dec 13.

TenHaken left China with a good impression. "In each community, I was welcomed with warmth and gratitude from the municipal and business leaders," he said.

Youngstown Mayor Brown said he hopes the visit will help his city's businesses expand in China.