Shaanxi delegation visits Atlanta to pursue business

A delegation from Shaanxi province led by a top provincial official and composed of representatives from different industries joined their American counterparts Thursday in Atlanta, Georgia, to discuss potential business cooperation between the state and the province.

The group, headed by Hu Heping, secretary of the Communist Party of China Shaanxi Provincial Committee, was in the Peach State to attend the Shaanxi-Georgia Investment and Trade Seminar and to promote state-province economic relationship in sectors such as aerospace, technology and agriculture.

"President Xi pointed out that cooperation on the national level depends on cooperation on the local level," said Hu. "Over the past 30 years, the cooperation between the US and China has really grown at the local level, which has enhanced the bilateral relationship between the two countries. The development of the current and future China-US relationship depends on the support of the local people."

Shaanxi has currently established "friendship cities" ties with three states and 10 cities in the US, Hu said.

One thing that Hu hopes to gain through the trip is to connect Xi'an and Atlanta as "sister cities".

Hu said there could be multifaceted collaboration between Shaanxi and Georgia. Shaanxi's strategic location in the heart of China gives it natural advantages for developing its business, aviation and logistics industries.

"The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is a world-famous airport," Hu said. "It has been very well-maintained and is highly efficient," Hu said, adding that he also wants to develop the Xi'an Xianyang Airport in Shaanxi into an international aviation hub.

"Through this visit, we hope to form a sister-city relationship between Xi'an, Shaanxi province and Atlanta, Georgia, and to take this opportunity to further strengthen the cooperation between the two sides in the fields of aviation, logistics and equipment manufacturing," Hu said.

Georgia state Senator Fran Millar, who spoke at the seminar, welcomed further collaboration between Shaanxi and Georgia.

He said there are more than 100 Chinese companies in Georgia that employ at least 5,000 Georgians.

"For that, we thank you very much," Millar said.

"As we foster our relationship here in Georgia with Shaanxi province, we look forward to expanding our relationship with each and every one of you," Millar said.