African American leaders use China trip to learn global economy

Leaders of the African American community in Los Angeles, who have learned a lot about global economy during their ground-breaking visit to China, are working towards future collaborations in various areas with their Chinese counterparts, an official said Thursday.

Blair Taylor, president and CEO of the Los Angeles Urban League (LAUL), said his delegation's recent China mission became a springboard for developing an African American plan for building global relationships and wealth.

"Not only did we learn a great deal about China's rapid emergence into the world, but we gained new working relationships for the 21st century for African Americans," he told a press conference.

Taylor led a 12-member team of Urban League officials, including high-level business, social and educational leaders from the local African American community, to visit the Chinese cities of Shanghai and Beijing for eight days earlier this month.

During their stay in China, the African American leaders visited manufacturing facilities, retail outlets and leading companies in various sectors, and attended meetings with Chinese government officials and leaders from civil society, such as child welfare, heath care and minority affairs.

The delegation also held discussions with Chinese experts ranging from infrastructure development and economic growth to demographics and urbanization, according to LAUL officials.

Founded in 1921, LAUL is Los Angeles' premier organization in advancing equal opportunities on behalf of African Americans and other minorities through innovative job training, education, youth achievement and business development programs.

Taylor said that his organization, currently working on a 21st century model for African American community revitalization, could get some inputs from China, a nation that "has emerged from third world to global superpower status in less than 25 years."

According to Taylor, the model would involve revitalizing urban areas of Los Angeles, one neighborhood at a time.

He said LAUL is also working on a white paper on future collaboration programs with China, including bringing teachers from China to teach Chinese at a local high school and introducing Chinese assistance with the development of the African American labor force.

Source: Xinhua