U.S. Senators Bond and McCaskill Return to China with Delegation as Economic Ties Strengthen for Midwest-China Hub
Contact: Nancy Schnoebelen
Vice President, Marketing & Communications
314.615.7617, nschnoebelen@slcec.com
ST. LOUIS, August 26, 2010 -- August 29, United States Senators Christopher "Kit" Bond and Claire McCaskill will lead a delegation of government, business and civic leaders along with the Midwest-China Hub Commission back to Beijing and Shanghai. The underlying mission of the delegation's trip to China is to strengthen economic ties with Chinese government officials and business leaders to create new markets for Midwestern goods in China.
The delegation has arranged a host of meetings including discussions with the Civil Aviation Administration of China, China Air Transport Association, Chinese airlines, as well as government entities such as the Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Development & Reform Commission, Shanghai Municipal Government, and Shanghai Municipal Commission of Agriculture, among others. Meetings will focus on promoting connections with additional freight forwarders and following up on agreements signed between Missouri and Chinese business interests.
"This bipartisan trip is another critical step on the road to make the Midwest-China Hub a reality and the St. Louis region an even better place to do business," said Bond. "With the economy in the slump, now is exactly the right time to be expanding markets for Midwest products and opening up new opportunities for Missourians. On our return I look forward to sharing the progress we are making on a project that will fuel the jobs of the future in the Heartland."
"Opening up Chinese markets for Midwestern products will mean more jobs for people in the St. Louis area and economic growth for the entire region," McCaskill said. "We're getting closer to making increased exports from the Midwest to China a reality, and this trip will help move the process forward."
Historically, the majority of Asian investment and attention has been on the East and West coasts, with the Midwest viewed as a "fly-over" region. A Midwest-China hub will balance trade and increase the visibility of Midwestern products in China and other global regions.
Atlas Air Worldwide predicts that future trade between Asia and North America will grow faster than average with flights heading west expected to comprise two-thirds of the growth. The Bureau of Economics reports that exports in the St. Louis metropolitan area are steadily climbing -- from $10 billion in 2007 to $12 billion in 2008. Those numbers combined with the Midwest's central location and its niche in food, plant and bio-sciences are added incentives for China to establish a Midwest air cargo hub.
About the Midwest-China Hub Commission
The Midwest-China Hub Commission, known as "The Big Idea," is a public-private collaboration among St. Louis and Missouri governmental officials and business associates working together to establish an economic partnership with China. Formed in 2009, the Commission proposes that the St. Louis region become China's primary gateway into the American heartland through dedicated cargo flights connecting the Midwest U.S. with China.
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