On Saturday, February 18, the North Carolina China Center held its grand opening with a ceremony at their location on World Trade Boulevard in the Research Triangle Park.

The ceremony was attended by local government officials and Chinese dignitaries, including Xeujun Qiu, Consul General from the Embassy of the People's Republic of China, and several Chinese ministers. North Carolina officials included James B. Hunt, former Governor of North Carolina; U.S. Congressmen Brad Miller, Robert Etheridge and David Price; and Tony Copeland, Assistant Secretary of the N.C. Department of Commerce.

"This is the culmination of not just one dream, but the dreams of many people," said Duane Long, chairman of the N.C. China Center. Long's company, Longistics, is providing a home for the Center at its headquarters near the RDU airport.

The ceremony was highlighted by a ribbon cutting and Chinese entertainment, including a performance by Ms. Jennifer Chang, National Master of Guzheng (a traditional Chinese instrument, also called a table harp).

The mission of the N.C. China Center (NCCC) is to serve as a statewide catalyst and resource for the promotion of economic, educational, governmental and citizen pursuits between North Carolina and the Greater China Region (GCR, including Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan).

Some of the aims of the Center are to explore business opportunities; promote academic exchanges; foster industrial collaborations; enhance cross-cultural understanding; and assist all citizens, business entities, public and private institutions in relations with the GCR.

By Yong Tang, Washington-based correspondent for People's Daily Online