During the meeting, Consul General Zhao highly appreciated the great importance attached by Mayor Emanuel and Chicago municipal government to developing friendly relations of cooperation with China. Zhao said China has a strong interest in expanding exchanges and cooperation in extensive areas with Chicago, which is a leading city in America in the fields of economy, finance, culture, education as well as science and technology. He hoped that both sides would create more new ideas and take more concrete actions so as to achieve more tangible results in bilateral cooperation. 

                                     

           Mayor Emanuel welcomed Zhao to assume the duty of Chinese Consul General to Chicago. He said he would continue to promote Chicago as the gateway to America for Chinese investment. He also hoped to further strengthen people-to-people contacts and welcome more Chinese students and tourists to Chicago. 

           Deputy Consul General Wang Shuying, Commercial Counselor Chen Guowen, Mr. Michael Sacks, Vice Chairman of the Board of World Business Chicago and Mr. Andrew Spinelli, Associate Director of International Relations and Protocol of Mayor's Office attended the meeting.