Fifth District Supervisor Josie Gonzales today embarked on a junket to China, where she is to visit the cities of Beijing, Yancheng, Nanjing, Kunming, Yunnan, and Hainan through August 6. She is to represent the County of San Bernardino and
the Inland Valley Development Agency during her various interactions with government, trade and business officials there.
The estimated $7,183 travel related costs, including airfare, meals, hotel, and ground transportation will be paid by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries Association, which is a governmental division of the People’s Republic of China. The $180 cost to process the travel visa application for Supervisor Gonzales was covered by an appropriation from the 2018-19 Fifth District Board of Supervisors office budget.
Gonzales is accompanying a delegation of local elected officials from Southern California on a foreign trade mission to China. It is intended that the delegation will meet with several Chinese government officials and business leaders to discuss potential trade and development opportunities, specifically with the Inland Valley Development Agency (IVDA) and the San Bernardino International Airport. IVDA is a joint powers authority comprised of the County of San Bernardino and the cities of San Bernardino, Colton, and Loma Linda devoted to community and economic revitalization in the area around the grounds of the former Norton Air Force Base, now known as San Bernardino International Airport, through business development, infrastructure improvement, job creation and retention.