High-Ranking Chinese Officials Tour Loudoun

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — A high-ranking delegation of Chinese government officials visited Loudoun County on Sunday, Nov. 20, before heading to Washington, D.C. for the Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade.

Hosted by Visit Loudoun, some of the 60 guests in attendance included Vice Premier Wang Yang; Li Jinzao, Chairman of the China National Tourism Administration; U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and Kelly Craighead, Executive Director, National Travel and Tourism Office, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

The delegation was welcomed by U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Comstock and Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Chair Phyllis J. Randall.

According to a Visit Loudoun announcement, the delegation’s focus was on Loudoun’s agriculture and equestrian history as it relates to tourism. With 60-plus wineries and breweries, along with farms and new facilities to include the Mid-Atlantic’s first hops processing plant, Loudoun is at the forefront of agritourism.

“Beth Erickson and her team at Visit Loudoun do a tremendous job in promoting Loudoun County not just to the nation but also to the world,” Congresswoman Barbara Comstock said. “The Chinese economic delegation led by China’s Vice Premier Wang Yang wanted to see the connection between agriculture and tourism. And, who best tells that story? Loudoun County.”

Photo courtesy of Visit Loudoun. At Vanish Brewery: Kellie Hinkle, Agricultural Development Officer, Loudoun County Department of Economic Development; Angel Rutsch, General Manager of Vanish Brewery; US Congresswoman Barbara Comstock; Jonathan Staples, owner of Vanish Brewery; Vice Premier Wang Yang, one of the four Vice Premiers of the People’s Republic of China; Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Chair Phyllis Randall, Visit Loudoun President and CEO Beth Erickson; Robert McCollar, International Business Development Manager for Loudoun County.

This partnership with China began earlier this year when Visit Loudoun was contacted by the National Travel and Tourism Office, International Trade Administration and U.S. Department of Commerce. Visit Loudoun, in collaboration with Loudoun County’s Department of Economic Development hosted an advance team in September to select locations for the Sunday visit.

Accompanied by Chinese media, the delegation toured Morven Park with Executive Director Stephanie Kenyon; ate a traditional American Thanksgiving meal prepared by Chef Rosendale at the newly opened Roots 657; attended a wine tasting with Doug Fabbioli from Fabbioli Cellars and toured the hops facilities as well as Vanish Brewery at Black Hops Farm with owner Jonathan Staples.

Photo courtesy of Visit Loudoun. Vice Premier Wang Yang, one of the four Vice Premiers of the People’s Republic of China (second on right), speaks to Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Chair Phyllis Randall and US Congresswoman Barbara Comstock at the hops processing plant located at Black Hops Farm.

“We are proud to showcase the collaboration between our agriculture and tourism industries,” Visit Loudoun President and CEO Beth Erickson said. “It was rewarding to hear Vice Premier Wang Yang’s excitement and appreciation as well as his promise to promote Loudoun to the people of China.”

The weekend visit further extends Loudoun’s partnerships with China. In May, a new sister airport relationship agreement was signed between Washington Dulles International and Beijing Capital International airports. That partnership, initiated by Loudoun economic development and Visit Loudoun, was a direct result from a 2015 trade mission to China, according to the announcement.

SEE ALSO: Dulles and Beijing Airports Sign Sister Marketing Agreement

Photo taken in Loudoun County courtesy of Visit Loudoun