On March 28th, Consul General Zhao Jian met with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel at the City Hall. Deputy Consul General Liu Jun, Director Lisa Kohnke and Deputy Director Jordan Miller of Strategic Partnerships and Global Affairs of the Mayor’s Office were present at the meeting.

Consul General Zhao spoke highly of the proactive efforts the Mayor has made over the years in developing relations with relevant Chinese provinces and cities which have produced fruitful results. He said that the Chicago-China relationship is solidly based and enjoys great potential and prospects. The Consulate General will continue to work closely with the Chicago government to take bilateral exchanges and cooperation to new heights.

Mayor Emanuel warmly welcomed Consul General Zhao to his new post. He noted that recent years have seen ever closer economic and people-to-people’s links between Chicago and China. Chinese investment in Chicago is increasing by a large margin, and the joint working mechanism Chicago has established with the Chinese Ministry of Commerce and eight Chinese cities is functioning well. Chicago is ready to expand win-win cooperation with China in mutually complementary areas like rail transport construction, air freight expansion and livable city building, thus setting a good example in developing relations with China.