City of Long Beach

LA Chinese Consulate

Qingdao Visitor Meets with Long Beach Residents
October, 2004  Long Beach, CA

            Ms. Yu Liying from Qingdao visited Long Beach in October, as part of a multi-city business trip to the U.S.   During her stay in Long Beach,  she attended the LBQA reception at the Chinese Consulate in Los Angeles and was impressed with the large number of attendees.  “Because we fought rain and heavy freeway traffic,” said Dr. Mary Barton, who hosted Ms. Yu for the visit, “Liying was doubly impressed that so many people cared enough to be there for the festivities.”

            A meeting at City Hall was the first order of business for Ms. Yu, following a small welcome party sponsored by Dr. Barton and her husband, Dr. Tom Mayes.

            “I’ve asked Ms. Yu to help us work with the Qingdao officials regarding our proposal to help with the Olympics sailing events in 2008,” said Barton.  “She has kindly accepted.  While here, we met with Diane Jacobus, Special Assistant to Mayor O’Neill, who has also offered to help promote this project.  It was very enlightening to hear Liying tell us about the complicated relationships in Qingdao regarding the Olympics!  Clearly, we need an insider to guide us, so we are grateful for her help.”

            Ms. Yu also met individually with several business owners and learned about their interests in China.  She currently is a “match-maker,” finding partners for Chinese and U.S. businesses, after a long career with the China International Chamber of Commerce office in Qingdao.  Her trip to the U.S. also included stops in Pittsburgh, New York, and Washington.

LBQA Sponsors

California State University
Long Beach

California State University
Los Angeles