President Stroble joins St. Louis business and civic leaders in economic development mission in China
Webster University President Elizabeth (Beth) J. Stroble is among a contingent of St. Louis business, labor, civic and governmental leaders who recently took part in a weeklong economic development mission in Beijing and Shanghai, China. Led by U.S. Senators Kit Bond and Claire McCaskill, the mission was the latest chapter in a three-year effort to establish a Midwest China Cargo and Commercial Hub for China in St. Louis. The group is dedicated to making St. Louis a hub for China’s Midwest trade activities.
As part of the trip, Chinese aviation officials signed an agreement that frames the final issues to be negotiated to establish the Cargo Hub at Lambert International Airport and will visit St. Louis this fall to conclude negotiations with the Midwest China Hub Commission. Initial flights are anticipated to begin in the first quarter of 2011.
Dr. Stroble’s involvement with the Midwest China Hub Commission ties in with Webster’s strong ties to China, where the University opened its first campus there in Shanghai, in 1996. And, in 2008, the Chinese government selected Webster as the permanent site of Missouri’s only Confucius Institute, a nonprofit, public institute with the goal of promoting the understanding of Chinese language and culture and the acceleration of multiculturalism. The Confucius Institute at Webster University also is providing support for the St. Louis China Hub Commission. Click this link to view a fact sheet outlining Webster’s involvement in China and the Confucius Institute: Webster China Fact Sheet
Dr. Stroble and other members of the delegation, including Ron Fromm, chairman and CEO of Brown Shoe Co.; Dr. Peter Raven, president-emeritus, Missouri Botanical Garden; and Agnes Rey-Giraud, president of international activities, Express Scripts; had an opportunity to meet with a wide variety of Chinese aviation, business and governmental leaders.
In Beijing, Dr. Stroble and delegation members were hosted by Vice Premier Wang Qishan, the ministers of Foreign Affairs and Health, and Zhang Zhangsun, chairman of the Glory Estate Co. In Shanghai, Dr. Stroble had an opportunity to visit the World Expo’s U.S. and China Pavilions. She also met with Director of Webster China Rick Foristel and Deputy Director Nelly Zhang.
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