Article 1: Business Leaders Make Contacts in China
Article 2: Inland Empire China Delegation mixes business, pleasure
Article 3: March China Trip
Article 5: Corona Chamber trip to China
Article 6: China tours big lure for local merchants

Anaheim Chamber Mission to China, November 2002---by anaheim Chamber of Commerce

On the same day that Chinese Communist Party 16th Congress met to transfer power to new leaders, a large Business Mission Tour from California landed in Beijing. Among the group's chamber members was Vice President of Membership for the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce, Mrs. Anaheim International 2003, Esther Stonger.

Citslinc International in conjunction with the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce sponsored the Business Tour on November 8-16, 2002. The nine-day tour started in Beijing and proceeded to the ancient city of Hangzhou, Suzhou and ended in the modern metropolis of Shanghai. All delegates that attended experienced the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and the Great Wall, as well as many other ancient sites. We acquired a new appreciation of silk and tea as we toured the Silk Plant, Embroidery Institute, and Teahouses. It wasn't long before we became proficient at counting RMB Yuans the currency used in China. After a long day of excursions and business seminars it was nice to rest in 5 star hotels. "No need to worry if you forgot to bring electrical adapters all hotels were eager to supply you with needed essentials," said Stonger. The low price offered covered air travel, all meals, tour tickets, and airport tax. The buses were big and spacious and the tour guides were all quite knowledgeable. At the close of each day trip it was hard to say goodbye to our new friends.

The General manager of UPS and the Mayor pro Tem of Ontario meet with Shanghai Municipal Government.

Business ties could be established since the tour included many tailored business receptions with officials, such as a meeting with Chinese Regional Delegations from Tianjin Municipal Sub-Counsel of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade. We also met with administrations of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation's in each major municipal government. China is expected to draw around $50 billion in foreign direct investment, attracted by the country's low cost labor force. The Anaheim Chamber of Commerce agenda focused on business opportunities for its chamber members. "International access is a key proponent to doing business in the 21st Century," said Stonger, "filling a global niche in an effort to promote positive economic growth was the main reason we helped sponsor the trip."

Trade seminar with Taizhou Municipal Government.

At the reception by the Shanghai Municipal Government at Rainbow Hotel, gifts were presented from the City of Anaheim, as well as proclamations to the Mayor of each city toured. All officials greeted these goodwill efforts with sincerity coupled with gifts from their country. Efforts to promote the City of Anaheim as a great place to conduct business were exemplified when a Chinese reporter at a Shanghai reception interviewed Stonger. The tour allowed visits of the many economic development zones, such as the Pudong Economic Development Zone. "I was surprised by the number of construction cranes. It was evident that a massive overhaul of their infrastructure was definitely taking place," said Stonger. We were able to speak with officials and learn of the banking systems, exchange clearance of transactions, letters of credit, all of the hidden things we take for granted here in the USA. Through the optional business seminars, we learned of many investment opportunities and key investment promotion projects in progress. If a business wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to meet businesses and civic officials the opportunity definitely was there," she said. Actual contracts were signed related to theme park development, industrial water treatment, and plastic tubing processing and pharmaceutical production.

"I was surprised with the interest of each professional who was eager and anxious to connect with business owners in the USA. Included in the mix were Chinese business owners involved in waste management, crafts, automotive processing, shoe suppliers, and disposal diapers. Since I have returned I have received many e-mails from the business contacts made in China. All expressing an interest in finding distributor channels for their products in the USA. Or simply relaying that their companies will be setting up subsidiaries in California and would welcome any assistance," said Stonger. "We appreciated not only the business end of the tour but also the opportunity to take in so many cultural experiences. My favorite part of the trip was riding on a rickshaw through Beijing Hutong, to attend a dinner at a local family's home. The opportunity to see how a normal family lives in China was priceless. The host cooked a delicious feast in a kitchen the size of a small closet. My kitchen in California all of sudden felt very spacious and luxurious. Any myths I had were all erased when I personally experienced the family's unique customs and traditional spark and hospitality," said Stonger, "This was truly an unforgettable trip filled with many memorable sites. Please come and experience for yourself all that China has to offer. I challenge you to feel the sensation of stepping into a refreshingly unfamiliar world."

The Anaheim Chamber of Commerce will be sponsoring another trip to China on March 12-20, 2003. If interested please call our office at (714) 758-0222.

Back to Top