ATLANTA -- A Georgia delegation led by the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin completed a successful nine-day mission to China that included visits with business leaders and senior government officials in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Wuhan from Sept. 5-13.

“We had a very productive trip to China, including being warmly received by China's ministers of foreign affairs and commerce and by the vice minister of aviation,” said Mayor Franklin. “Our mission was to strengthen relationships that will help us achieve our long-term goals of winning the next People’s Republic of China consulate, new passenger air routes and new business. We owe a special thanks to the National Association of Chinese-Americans for their work over the last two decades to create a relationship between the People’s Republic of China and Atlanta.”

“On this trip, we stood on the shoulders of the dozens of Atlanta companies that have been successfully operating in China for decades, such as UPS, Coca-Cola, IBM, GE, ING, Portman Holdings and Troutman Sanders,” said Chamber President Sam A. Williams . “ We networked with Atlanta companies in every city we visited, and built on the foundation the Georgia Department of Economic Development has already laid through its work to open a Georgia trade office in Beijing in 2007.”

The delegation met with government officials in each city, including:

• the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, members of the U.S. consulate in Shanghai and China's minister of foreign affairs to advocate for Atlanta to be chosen as the next location for a full diplomatic consulate
• the minister of commerce and vice minister of aviation to promote Delta Air Lines for the next direct air route between Atlanta and China
• high-level government officials in the cities of Wuhan, Shanghai and Hong Kong to promote and develop working relationships and strengthen business ties
• Chinese university officials looking for ways to expand their reach to Atlanta
• a number of Chinese companies that expressed interest in learning more about the opportunities to invest and locate in Georgia and Atlanta
• the American Chambers of Commerce in Shanghai and Hong Kong and the World Chinese Business Association

The delegation also learned about the culture and people of China, visiting the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City.

“This trip showed what can be accomplished when the region works together to tell Atlanta’s story,” said Sam Olens, chair of the Atlanta Regional Commission and chair of the Cobb County Commission. “We will continue that cooperation as we take the next steps to expand Atlanta’s reach around the world.”

Next steps for building ties to China include:

• continuing outreach with officials in China and Washington to advocate for a People’s Republic of China consulate and direct passenger air route service between Atlanta and China
• preparing for reciprocal visits to Atlanta from business and civic leaders in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Wuhan and other Chinese cities
• and following up with businesses that expressed an interest in doing business in Georgia and Atlanta.

The following Atlanta organizations helped make the trip possible with sponsorships: InterContinental Hotels Group, Troutman Sanders, Jones Day, Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP, UPS, IBM, Portman Holdings, ING, Georgia Power, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Siemens and the World Chinese Business Association.

The following sent delegates on the mission to China: the City of Atlanta; the Atlanta Regional Commission; the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce; the Georgia Department of Economic Development; the Atlanta City Council; Troutman Sanders, LLP; Georgia Power Company; Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport; SunTrust Bank; the National Association of Chinese-Americans; Delta Air Lines; Kennesaw State University; TVS & Associates; Womble, Carlyle Sandridge & Rice; Reece & Associates; the University of Georgia; Portman Holdings; InterContinental Hotels Group; Sutherland Asbill & Brennan, LLP; Jones Day and Bentley Investments, Inc.

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The Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce (MACOC) -- with our 4,000 member companies that collectively employ more than 700,000 workers -- is a catalyst for a vibrant metro region. The Metro Atlanta Chamber focuses on the issues that matter most to the business community: improving quality of life, promoting economic growth and making Atlanta a brand name that means opportunity.

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