On July 30th, Consul General Gao Yanping met with Mayor of Austin Lee Leffingwell in the City Hall of Austin, capital of Texas. Consul Wei Liqing and Wang Peijun from the Chinese Consulate General, Austin Economic Growth and Redevelopment Services Office Director Kevin Johns and Deputy Director Rodney Gonzales were present.

Consul General Gao said, the Chinese and the U.S. leaders have reached the important consensus on building a positive, cooperative and comprehensive China-U.S. relationship for the 21st century. More and more exchanges and cooperation at all levels are underway between the China and the United States. More Governors and Mayors from the southern region of the U.S. have visited China and attended the Shanghai World Expo. Renowned for its stable economic development, advantageous location, advanced technology and live music etc., more and more Chinese enterprises, students and tourists have been to attracted to invest, study and travel in Austin. Consul General Gao hopes Mayor Leffingwell can take advantage of the healthy and stable development of China-U.S. relations and further strengthen exchanges and cooperation with China in all areas.

Mayor Leffingwell welcomed Consul General Gao’s revisit to Austin. He said, he is deeply honored by Austin’s attractiveness to the Chinese people. Austin is a city with the residents’ average age of only 33 years old, which is a great promise of its economic prosperity. The City of Austin looks forward to expanding its mutual beneficial cooperation with its Chinese counterparts in the fields of economy, culture, technology and education etc. so as to facilitate a better understanding and friendship between the two peoples. As Mayor of the capital city of Texas, he wishes to visit China at an early date to boost the friendship between China and Austin to a new level.

Consul General Gao also shared views with Mayor Leefingwell on issues of common concerns.