Wednesday, April 23, 2008 , Updated 12:13 p.m., April 28, 2008
UPDATED: Dallas mayor leads trade mission to China
Trip will promote trade, investment, tourism and non-stop flight
Dallas trade delegation’s visit to Qingdao, China
(Click photo to see entire gallery)
Mayor Leppert & Mayor Xia signing the Friendship City Agreement
DALLAS — Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert will lead a delegation of city officials and business leaders on a trade mission to China. The visit will include meetings and ceremonial events in seven cities over eight days.
During the trip the delegation will lay the groundwork with Chinese airlines to move toward a non-stop flight from China to DFW Airport within the next few years. The group will work to promote Dallas as a tourist destination with a Chinese population that has more cash and ability to travel around the world. The delegation will also establish formal relationships with several cities that are considered economic powerhouses in China and promote the use of the Inland Port, the rapidly growing trade logistics hub in the southern sector of Dallas County. And they will meet with companies considering establishing or moving US offices to Dallas.
“We are laying the foundation - building solid and personal relationships - that we hope will translate into investment, new facilities and jobs for Dallas,” said Mayor Leppert. Three members of the City Council will join him on the trip.
Since taking office, Mayor Leppert has made international tourism and trade a key element of Dallas’ economic development plans. In January, the Mayor led a trade delegation to Mexico, and earlier this week he helped host a meeting between local CEOs and the visiting President of Mexico. With China now Dallas’
top trading partner – and with eight of its top ten trading partners from Asia – the city’s government and business leaders must have a world wide view.
“We can no longer afford to think of business on just a national scale, or even limit our efforts to this hemisphere,” said Mayor Leppert. “We have to be actively recruiting foreign companies, foreign trade and foreign investment. For Dallas to prosper, we must all compete on a global scale for a global economy. “
The group will depart Friday, April 25 and return on Friday, May 2. The cities include Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Qingdao, Dalian, Shenzhen and Hong Kong.
Delegation members include
Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert (and his wife, Laura)
Dallas Councilmember Ron Natinsky (and his wife, Nancy), Chair of the Council’s Economic Development Committee
Dallas Councilmember Tennell Atkins (and his wife, Marshella); Vice Chair of the Council’s Economic Development Committee
Dallas Councilmember Jerry Allen, Member of the Council’s Economic Development Committee
Robert Hsueh, Member of the DFW Airport Board
Joe Lopano, Executive Vice President, DFW Airport
Laura Estrada, Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau Chairwoman Elect
William Tsao, Dallas Area Rapid Transit Member of the Board
David Lind (and his wife, Miranda); CEO, Corgan Associates
Linda Kao*, Director of MBA Global Program, Cox School of Business, Southern Methodist University
*will only be joining the delegation on certain segments of the trip.
Source: City of Dallas
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John McClelland, says:
Once again a waste of city funds.
Verified
1 year, 7 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
DC, says:
Of all the pathetic Dallas city hall related BS around here, I think this trip really tops it all for the month if not the year.
This nice sojourn through Asia has to be an award winning display of political stupidity.
http://www.mardigrasmadeinchina.com/t...
not to mention the obvious:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia...
It's sad we're funding a golden backscratcher tour for this delegation. Real nice of Tom to trot out a couple token asians, too.
I see it now:
"Hey, Chinese businessman, we gots your people, too! Come ride the bus in Dallas! Bill, take it awaYYYY!"
Anonymous
1 year, 7 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Scott Doyle, says:
No worries, DC. I'm sure Tom will make it a point to display how important he is and get kidnapped for ransom...which few, if any, would be willing to pay.
Verified
1 year, 7 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
DC, says:
You'd think this sort of actual, real-world event related to human rights and our local economy would be more interesting than the goblins talk.
Anonymous
1 year, 7 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Billusa99, says:
Love that avatar, DC. Where'd you get such an awesome idea?
Anonymous
1 year, 7 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
DC, says:
Seemed like a good idea at the time.
Anonymous
1 year, 7 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Scott Doyle, says:
Still does, imo.
Verified
1 year, 7 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Rick Yost, says:
Making Dallas a tourist destination for the Chinese is probably a good thing. I dare say, in today's economy, they DO have more cash and ability to travel around the world than Americans do.
However, I still can imagine the whoopie cushions, and Trojans being stuffed into their suitcases.
Verified
1 year, 7 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Rick Yost, says:
In the near future, we may need a non-stop from China just to deliver rice.
Verified
1 year, 7 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Scott Doyle, says:
Or, to deliver our vertically-challenged future overlords.
<img src="http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/2281/tarp3uonc4.gif">
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1 year, 7 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
John McClelland, says:
I wonder if they will continue to proclaim that the Dallas Hub is actually in Dallas (which btw it's not).
And I still wonder why spouses are going on the trip. There was question last time as to who paid their way.
I bet you if I went to the Council today and asked them if they knew anything about international shipping, the freight forwarders in their city, the steamship lines, etc. I would get a blank stare.
Verified
1 year, 7 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
DC, says:
DO IT!!!
Anonymous
1 year, 7 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
EdWeirdness, says:
Let's start counting down the days until we can elect another mayor!
Anonymous
1 year, 7 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
bobdon000, says:
Angela Hunt for Mayor !!
She had the good sense not to particpate in this boondoggle.
Anonymous
1 year, 7 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
DC, says:
This is it?! Still outraged about the evolution goblins not being allowed to teach organic chemistry, but no one really gives a crap about the mayor out on a ladyboy excursion on the taxpayer dollar?
Seriously...
Anonymous
1 year, 7 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal