Chinese Lions Presented to Milwaukee

A trade delegation of about 30 people from the Chinese city of Ningbo visited Milwaukee July 21-23, 2008. The Ningbo delegation presented Mayor Tom Barrett with two large, carved stone lions, which serve as symbolic guards to the entrances of major buildings. M.E. Dey & Co., a Milwaukee-based customs broker and freight forwarder coordinated with a Chinese freight forwarder, U.S. Customs in Los Angeles, a domestic trucking company, and the City of Milwaukee in order to get this prestigious gift to Wisconsin.

The City of Milwaukee has developed an ongoing relationship with the City of Ningbo. Like Milwaukee, Ningbo is a medium-sized city. In China, a city with 8 million inhabitants is considered medium-sized. Their port is very active and one of the largest in China. Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett signed a cooperative city-to-city agreement with the City of Ningbo in 2005. Governor Jim Doyle later strengthened the relationship with his Trade Mission visit in September of 2007, where further business opportunities were pursued. The Ningbo-Milwaukee relationship has grown steadily over the years thanks to additional visits by others, including Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce President, Tim Sheehy.

-- Stanley Pfrang