Chinese visitors here next two weeks

Business people, including reps from sister city, Ma'anshan City

Wednesday, August 1, 2007

GALESBURG - The Galesburg Regional Economic Development Association will host visitors from Changehun, Shenyang and Ma'anshan City, China, over the next two weeks.

Ma'anshan City became Galesburg's newest sister city this past spring.

Five MBA students from the University of Illinois-Chicago will arrive in Galesburg on Friday to learn about local agriculture, industry and suppliers. The public is invited to attend a program at 4 p.m. Friday at the Knox County Farm Bureau, 180 S. Soangetaha Road. Presenters will include Josh Gibb of the Knox County Farm Bureau and several other agricultural businesses. That will be followed Saturday by a tour of local elevators, seed producers, local farms and equipment manufacturers.

Students participating in the exchange include Wang Huiyong, manager assistant-Jilin Grain Group, Tianjin Cereals, Oils and Foodstuffs Corp; Ge Hongquiang, general manager assistant-Jilin Yuehua Wood Industry Produce Corp.; Wang Xinfeng, global service department manager, Beijing Cisco Systems Inc.; Liu Quingfeng, vice president, The People's Hospital of Liaoning Province; and Wang Huilian, section chief, Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of Liaoning Provincial Government.

"This is an impressive group of non-traditional students who have been selected by their companies and their government to take advantage of the MBA program and the networking opportunities it offers," Greg Mangieri, GREDA president, said in a news release. "They are China's designated decision makers of the very near future."

Next week, another delegation from Ma'anshan City will include Zhou Jin Song, deputy board member; Fang Guogiung, deputy manager general; and Wu Mingming, engineer of Anhui Masteel Holly Industry Co. Inc. Most of their time will be spent meeting with businesses and companies in the region that can take advantage of Masteel Holly Industry's products and services.

Anhui Masteel Holly Industry Co. Inc. was formed by Anhui's largest company, C Ma Steel and Holly Industry of Hong Kong in 2003, with total assets amounting to $210 million. It was the first company set up under Ma Steel's initiative to promote new projects, new organization and new policies. The company is engaged in the production and sale of steel products and other packaging materials and provision of on-site packaging services.

"Recognizing the role of a global economy and our position as a city with solid inland transportation and infrastructures, GREDA and the city of Galesburg recognize the importance of building relationships with China and other countries throughout the world," Mangieri said. "These cultural exchanges enhance and strengthen our business relationship with China while building a strong foundation toward economic development."

Galesburg city and economic development officials will return to China in October. Visits are planned to Ma'anshan City and the Tianjin Free Trade Zone. Galesburg Mayor Gary Smith said earlier an agreement with the Free Trade Zone will be signed during the autumn journey. Galesburg has applied to have Logistics Park-Galesburg designated as an extension of the Foreign-Trade Zone in Peoria, which is seen as a key to doing business with the 60-square-mile industrial park in the Tianjin Free Trade Zone.