SIOUX FALLS, S.D.(KELO.com) — Mayor Paul TenHaken is back from a trade trip to China, his first-ever visit, and, apparently, the first by a Sioux Falls mayor.
“Really went with eyes wide open, not sure what to expect. Just blown away. I mean I was blown away by the technological advancements of a lot of the companies we visited. I was blown away by the hospitality that we were shown…,” TenHaken tells Kelo.com News.
TenHaken was part of the inaugural mayoral delegation trip sponsored by the U.S. Heartland China Association.
The mayor’s visit comes amid China’s many human rights abuses, including in Hong Kong.
“There’s a lot of egregious acts that happen in China and visiting there for trade and economic development purposes is not a stamp on all things China,” says TenHaken.
TenHaken says its important for Sioux Falls to learn about Chinese business and cultural practices to better encourage more Chinese investment in the city.
