World Business Chicago recently unveiled the first EXIT magazine highlighting a U.S. city, and introducing prospective Chinese travelers to Chicago. EXIT is the only outbound travel magazine associated with the China National Tourism Association (CNTA), the sole private provider of tourism promotional magazines to outbound Chinese travelers.

The 48-page glossy magazine, printed in Chinese, provides information on Chicago to Chinese travelers planning international vacations and business trips. More than 55,000 copies of the publication were distributed last week through CNTA subsidiaries China International Travel Services (CITS), China Travel Services (CTS) and China Youth Travel Services (CYTS) at travel shops in the key Chinese cities of Beijing, Guangdong and Shanghai.

The Chicago EXIT magazine is a comprehensive guide to Chicago, featuring everything from its history, to its parks and museums, to information on the city’s changing seasons. The magazine, opening with a letter from Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, is filled with photos to visually introduce the beauty and enjoyability of this friendly big city that represents "the real America."

The Chinese and English content can be downloaded for free at www.worldbusinesschicago.com.

"Mayor Daley and Chicago’s business leadership are committed to establishing Chicago as the leading American bridge of friendship and business with China. With this project we are getting the jump on Chinese tourism by putting Chicago and Illinois on the map for future Chinese travelers," said Paul O’Connor, executive director, World Business Chicago. "Not only are Chicago’s guangxi – personal relationships – with China already strong, but O’Hare’s handling of 25% of all nonstop air service between the US and China gives us the vital business tool to dramatically increase Chinese tourism and investment."

The EXIT publication is one element in Chicago’s ongoing effort to set itself apart in its relations with China. Outbound tourism from China is projected to grow by an annual average of 12.8% between now and 2020, when 100 million people are forecast to travel abroad on an annual basis according to the World Tourism Organization. Chicago is positioning itself to be top of mind when Chinese travelers choose their destinations.

Mayor Richard M. Daley recently announced the opening of the Chicago China Development Corporation (CCDC) office in Shanghai, to help Chinese companies expand into the United States and to assist Chicago companies in China.

The public-private, not-for-profit corporation will be chaired by Mayor Daley and overseen by a board of directors comprised of Chicago business leaders appointed by the Mayor. 

John C. Thomson, a diplomat and communicator, has been appointed Executive Director of Chicago’s China office. Thomson was selected after an international search conducted pro bono by Colehower & Company, Inc.

The bilingual Thomson, who has extensive contacts throughout China, will report to the CCDC Board of Directors and maintain a day-to-day operating relationship with World Business Chicago and the City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development.

“To keep Chicago moving forward, we have to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the global economy,” Mayor Daley said at a City Hall news conference, “And that means strengthening our relationship with China, which is becoming a dominant force in international business.

“Our new Shanghai office will encourage Chinese investment in Chicago and seek new markets in China for the products and services produced by Chicago area companies. Investments by Chinese companies will create jobs for the people of Chicago and will strengthen Chicago’s reputation as a global city.”  

The idea of a Shanghai office arose during discussions between Mayor Daley and Mayor Han Zheng of Shanghai during Daley’s first trip to China in 2004 and during Han’s first trip to Chicago in 2005.

A study by Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, The Chicago Council on Global Affairs, and World Business Chicago determined that Chinese investors view Chicago as a strong business center. But it said Chicago needs to do a better job of communicating to Chinese enterprise leaders its strengths as a welcoming business-friendly city.

The CCDC Shanghai Office will increase Chicago’s visibility by promoting Chicago as an attractive location for Chinese businesses and generating opportunities for Chinese investment. The office will work with representatives of Chicago business, educational and cultural institutions to improve communication with Chinese leaders.

The office will also serve as a resource for Chicago’s small and medium-sized companies entering the China market, as well as large corporations that already have Chinese operations.

Thomson is a veteran of 36 years in diplomacy and business development. Since 2002, he has directed the Inter-University Program for Chinese Language Studies at Tsinghua University in Beijing. The program is operated by 13 U.S. universities, including the University of Chicago, to train professionals and doctoral candidates.

A graduate of Harvard and San Francisco State University, Thomson spent the first 10 years of his career with the U.S. State Department in Taiwan, Indonesia and China. He also has been deputy division chief of the East Asia Division of Voice of America and a public affairs officer with the U.S. Information Agency and the American Institute in Taiwan. He also was managing editor of China Online Inc., a Chicago-based China business information firm. He served as senior translator for President Reagan’s 1984 visit to China.

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) prides itself on preparing students to embrace diversity and to succeed in a global economy. Through the Office of Language and Cultural Education, CPS is implementing world language programs in 15 languages, including Chinese. The Motorola Foundation recently announced a grant to support this effort.

The Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China also generously supports America’s largest public school Chinese language and culture program.  PRC Consul General Xu Jinzhong last month announced CPS' largest ever single donation of foreign language teaching materials.

The Chinese world language program was established in 1998 and in the 2006-2007 academic year was offered at 16 elementary schools and 12 high schools, with over 6,000 students receiving instruction each day.

Expanding on the Chinese World Language Program, CPS launched Chicago’s Chinese Connection (C³) Program, offering Chinese to additional elementary and high school students. Through local and international partnerships, the program expands opportunities for the study and understanding of the Chinese language and culture, enhances professional development opportunities for educators and involves parents to extend learning beyond the classroom.

The Motorola Foundation's grant to the Chicago Public Schools C³ Program will fund opportunities for Chicago students to study abroad in China.

The Motorola grant will extend learning beyond the classroom, allowing students to apply their language skills in a cultural immersion program. These “Motorola Scholars” will travel to China for two weeks -- attending classes, visiting Chinese businesses such as Motorola’s China headquarters and experiencing cultural landmarks.

“The Chinese Language Program unites Motorola’s support for Chicago Public Schools with our long-established presence in China as an employer and member of the community,” said Eileen Sweeney, director of the Motorola Foundation. “This on-the-ground experience will give Chicago students an edge as they begin thinking about business careers – further strengthening Chicago’s role as a partner with China.”

Motorola is to-date the largest corporate contributor to the Chinese Connections Program.

“Learning another language is more than a luxury for our students—it is a necessity,’’ said Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley. “We need to prepare our students to compete in the global economy through programs like Chicago’s Chinese Connections Program. This is a perfect example of how many different groups such as the People’s Republic of China and Chicago’s business community are coming together to support students.”

C³ Program objectives include:

• Increase the number of schools offering Chinese as a world language citywide
• Expand partnerships with local, national and international education and business partners
• Increase professional development opportunities for CPS teachers which focus on Chinese language, history, education and cultural arts

In addition, Walter Payton College Preparatory High School is home to the recently-opened Confucius Institute in Chicago (CIC), a partnership between the Chicago Public Schools Office of Language and Cultural Education, the Chinese Han Ban and the East China Normal University in Shanghai.

CIC is an educational resource for teachers, parents and students throughout the Chicago area with a focus on the teaching of the Chinese language and culture. In addition to being a full professional development and workshop center, CIC is a resource library with more than 3,000 print and media materials for educators and students from all academic levels.

CIC services include:

• Professional Development for K-16 teachers of all subjects
• Workshops for Chicago Public School parents
• Workshops for parents of adopted Chinese children
• After school activities and workshops for students
• Full resource center for teachers, parents and students
• Courses on introductory and intermediate Chinese language and culture for travel and business
• Coordination of study programs for teachers and students in China
• Computer lab for technology based workshops and video conferencing
• Chinese language and cultural education advocacy programs for the United States

Click here for more information on Motorola Corporate and Foundation giving.