Secretaries of state from Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Kentucky, North Carolina work on cultural, tourism links with cities

Secretaries of state from Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Kentucky and North Carolina spent a week in China on a cultural and relationship-building trip.

The delegation visited the mainland from May 30-June 7.

"We visited with high-ranking municipal officials, like the deputy mayor of Shanghai," Iowa's Paul Pate told China Daily. "Obviously their system is different from ours. Shanghai has a population of about 24 million so municipal governments of that size are equivalent to state governments in the US."

The trip was funded by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and sponsored by the National Association of Secretaries of State in the US. Secretaries of state in the US handle administrative and record-keeping tasks like issuing driver's licenses and enforcing occupational and safety requirements.

In addition to Shanghai, Pate said the group visited Beijing, Kaifeng and Zhengzhou in Henan province, the Zhengzhou Airport Economic Zone and observed preparations for the construction of China's largest cargo airport.

Pate also got a chance to promote Iowa.

"The deputy mayor of Shanghai was very familiar with Iowa. He worked at a company in the state previously," Pate said. "That helps in establishing relationships because it's a lot easier when they know who you are."

Pate said China is Iowa's second-biggest export market as the Hawkeye State sends over $1.5 billion worth of goods.

"Most of our exports are centered on agriculture," Pate said. Located in the US heartland, Iowa ranks first in the nation in production of corn and soybeans, as well as hog and egg production.

Iowa's Asian population is about 71,000 (out of a total population of 3.1 million), Pate said. Ames and Iowa City - where Iowa State University and the University of Iowa are located respectively - have the largest number of Asians.

Pate said the state hopes to lure more Chinese tourists.

"We will be having our state fair in a few weeks and it's one of the best in the country. We have events like that should help to increase tourism from China," he said.

Chinese Vice-President Xie Yuan met with the delegation on June 1. He said China and the US need to encourage collaboration among local governments of both countries.

The other secretaries of state who accompanied Pate to China included John Merrill of Alabama, Mark Martin from Arkansas, Alison Lundergan Grimes of Kentucky and Elaine Marshall of North Carolina.

paulwelitzkin@chinadailyusa.com