Visits to Atlanta by the mayor and vice mayor of Wuhan, China, in June should contribute to further business relations between the cities and spark a greater interest in Georgia from Chinese tourists, according to Lani Wong, chair of the National Association of Chinese Americans.

Ms. Wong told GlobalAtlanta that members of the 25-member delegation visiting here with Mayor Li XianSheng are considering investing in a hotel and land in the Atlanta area.

“They think that there will be a lot of potential for tourism with China and that a hotel for Chinese visitors would be a good investment,” she said. “And they are interested in land so they can raise Chinese vegetables for the growing Chinese communities and the Chinese restaurants.”

The delegation also included officials representing Wuhan’s airport. The central government has approved an expansion of Wuhan airport as the city is the largest in central China and is considered a transportation hub for the region.

The airport officials visited Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and met with their counterparts including Benjamin DeCosta, Hartsfield’s aviation general manager.
Ms. Wong and other association members here have been pressing for more ties with Wuhan and had hoped that it would become a Sister City of Atlanta. Mayor Shirley Franklin led a delegation to Wuhan last year, but the city’s Sister City Commission favors Ningbo, China.

The idea of increasing tourism from Wuhan appeals to Ms. Wong, who said that it is easier for Chinese tourists to visit the United States under a group visa policy.

Prior to Mayor Li’s visit, another Wuhan delegation was in Atlanta to open an urban photo exhibition at the Fulton County Government Center, 141 Pryor St.

The photos included scenes of Wuhan geology, history and folk life.

Wuhan has a population of more than 8 million.

Story Contacts, Links and Related Stories
National Association of Chinese Americans – Lani Wong (770) 394-6542