The Chicago area is home to 40+ mainland Chinese-owned companies including:
- Goldwind North American HQ
- Wanxiang North American HQ
- Huawei Technologies
- BYD
- Xinhua office
- China Telecom Americas
- ZTE USA
- CCTV (China Central Television), 2012
There are more than 150 Chicago-area companies with locations in mainland China.
There are nearly 7,000 business establishments owned by ethnic Chinese in the Chicago area.
Recent Expansions:
- Goldwind, 2011
- DoWin Enterprises, 2010
- Wanxiang America Corporation, 2010
- Xinhua (News), 2008
- HuaMei Capital Company, Inc., 2007
- China Central Television (CCTV), 2012
China is the Chicago area's largest global trade partner:
2012 Imports to the Chicago Customs District
- Total: US$51.2 billion
Top Import Categories:
- Electric Machinery; Sound and TV Equip.
- Industrial Machinery, Including Computers
- Toys, Games & Sport Equip.
2012 Exports from the Chicago Customs District
- Total: US$4.3 billion
Top Export Categories:
- Optic, Photo, Medical or Surgical Instruments
- Industrial Machinery, Including Computers
- Electric Machinery; Sound and TV Equip.
Chicago/China connections:
Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Chicago
U.S.-China Chamber of Commerce, U.S. HQ
Shanghai and Shenyang Sister City relationships
Chicago-China Friendship Initiative, established in 2011
Hainan Airlines will run nonstop flights to Chicago from Beijing four times weekly beginning in 2013, and there are currently 28 weekly nonstop flights to mainland China (14 each to Beijing and Shanghai).
The Bank of China will open its 3rd U.S. branch, in Chicago, in 2012.
Chinese President Hu Jintao visited Chicago in 2011, the only U.S. city on his trip outside Washington D.C.
Reciprocal mayoral visits between Chicago and Shanghai, 2004-2005 and 2008
Former Mayor Richard M. Daley attended the Beijing Olympics, 2008, and the Shanghai World Expo 2010
Chicago was an Official Sponsor of the USA Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo.
Chicago's only foreign business office, the Chicago-China Economic Development Center (CCEDC) is located in Shanghai.
Chicago Confucius Institute established in 2006, one of the first in the U.S.
The Chicago Public Schools (CPS) system has more than 13,000 students learning Chinese – the largest public school program of its kind in the U.S.
10,668 mainland Chinese students attend Illinois universities (China is the #1 place of origin for foreign students in Illinois, at 26% of the overall total).
Shanghai is home to 643 alumni from DePaul, Northwestern University, University of Chicago, Columbia College, University of Illinois Chicago, Illinois Institute of Technology and Loyola. Mayor Daley welcomed many alumni (250+) to a reception in Shanghai during the Expo.
75,000 Chinese-Americans in the Chicago area
