Organizers of the China International Trade and Investment Fair (CIFIT) continued their global promotional drive by traveling to Baltimore on May 13. The city, in the eastern state of Maryland is a sister city of Xiamen – the fair's host city.
Baltimore Deputy Mayor Colin Tarbert received the Chinese delegation and listened to their introduction of the 2016 fair session.
The organizers told Tarbert about the initial plan for cooperation they reached with the federal investment promotion agency SelectUSA during an earlier trip to northeast US.
Tarbert pledged to push for Baltimore businesses to join the fair this September after receiving an invitation from the organizers.
The organizers held a roadshow on the afternoon with the help from the Baltimore–Xiamen Sister City Committee. The roadshow was hosted by the committee chairman, William Fontaine Bell.
William H. Cole IV, CEO and president of Baltimore Development Corporation, attended the event, along with representatives from local companies such as MCB Real Estate, LLC and law firm Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP.
Young Chinese entrepreneurs in the US also participated in the event.
The fair's sole airline partner, Air China, sent its representative in Washington to introduce the airline's latest developments to the audience.
China announced and implemented on May 15 a policy allowing visa-free entry of foreign tourist groups aboard cruise ships via all cruise ship ports along the country's coastline.
China and Georgia are set to waive visa requirements for travelers starting May 28.