NACA Welcomes Nanjing Delegation Led by Mayor Ji Jianye
A delegation consisting of over 15 government officials and company representatives from the city of Nanjing began its U.S. tour in Atlanta, at a dinner banquet organized by NACA and sponsored by the Georgia Department of Economic Development, Greenberg Traurig LLP, the Metro Atlanta Chamber and UPS. Despite being smaller in size than Atlanta, Nanjing boasts a population of over 8 million people and is the capital of Jiangsu province. Nanjing, formerly the capital of China, is rich with history and is a burgeoning powerhouse with a dynamic economy and a highly educated workforce. The delegation, led by Nanjing Mayor Ji Jianye, consisted of government officials and business leaders from Sample Technology Co. Ltd. and Suning Appliance Co., Ltd.
Welcomed upon their arrival in Atlanta by NACA Chair Lani Wong, President Steven Gu and NACA Advisor Henry Yu on Sunday, July 10th, the delegation was escorted to the Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead where a reception and dinner banquet were held in their honor. Some of the night’s attendees included Georgia House of Representatives member Charlice Byrd, DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis, Atlanta City Councilman Kwanza Hall and Sandy Springs Mayor Eva Galambos. One of the evening’s guest speakers, Xie Yunliang (Deputy Counsel General from the Chinese consulate in Houston), noted the importance of city and state exchanges between the U.S. and China as business relationships continue to grow between the two countries. The importance of educational exchange was also highlighted as it was noted that local educational institution, Emory University, has student exchanges and partnerships with Nanjing universities as well as recruitment programs with Nanjing high schools. The Emory-Nanjing Visiting Scholars Program that began two years ago, is a program that allows professors and graduate students to travel to and from presenting lectures and research. To date, about 25 Emory scholars have participated and visited Nanjing since the program’s inception.
The delegation’s second day in Atlanta consisted of a visit to UPS headquarters located in Sandy Springs as well as a meeting with Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed.
2011年7月10日傍晚，全美华人协会（NACA）在丽思卡尔顿酒店隆重设宴，欢迎南京市代表团。
南京市代表团由南京市市长季建业率领，有二十多位成员，包括南京市政府高层官员以及部分公司高管等。代表团此次访美，旨在进一步加强南京市与美国在物流、商业、文化旅游等领域的交流与合作。
宴会上，季建业市长向近百名与会嘉宾介绍了南京经济社会发展的情况。季建业说，南京是江苏省省会，拥有八百万人口，是历史悠久的文化名城，人才、教育、科技资源丰厚，有非常多的商业、投资和发展契机。南京愿意与亚特兰大工商企业界分享商机，推动合作，同时加强在科技、教育、人才方面的交流，加强南京市与乔治亚州、亚特兰大市政府之间的联系。
全美华人协会主席李秀兰女士在晚宴上致辞。她表示，作为致力于增进中美友好关系的组织，全美华人协会将为亚特兰大与南京市的交往搭建桥梁。中国驻休斯敦总领事馆副总领事谢云亮、乔治亚州众议员Charlice Byrd 、亚特兰大市国际关系委员会主席霍尔等也分别致辞。他们表示，期待亚特兰大与南京在各领域展开一系列合作。乔治亚州众议员Charlice Byrd还授予季建业市长“乔治亚州荣誉市民”称号。
亚特兰大是南京市代表团访问美国的第一站。在亚特兰大期间，季建业一行还会见了亚特兰大市市长Kasim Reed，参观了UPS公司总部。代表团还将访问达拉斯、新奥尔良、 圣安东尼奥、加州的圣何塞、丹佛等地。
此次晚宴的赞助者有乔治亚州经济发展部、Dekalb郡经济发展署、Greenberg Traurig LLP律师事务所、Metro Atlanta Chamber、UPS等。
文/全美华人协会 胡冰子
