Washington D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray participates in a rally on the government shutdown at the U.S. Capitol, October 9, 2013 in Washington, DC. The U.S. government shutdown is entering its ninth day as the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives remain gridlocked on funding the federal government. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Washington D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Mayor Vincent Gray will once again travel to China to promote economic development opportunities.

During a 10-day trip funded by World Tourism Cities Federation, Gray will attend a ribbon cutting for a new DC China Center in Beijing, one of D.C.’s sister cities. The first, opened in 2012 and also operated by the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, is located in Shanghai. The centers market development opportunities in D.C. to Chinese companies, attempt to attract students to D.C. colleges and market the city to tourists. As City Paper reported earlier this year, Chinese investors have taken advantage of the EB-5 program by sinking money into D.C. developments.

Gray will also attend the WTCF’s Summit “encourage … organizers to select the District as its 2015 host city,” per a release. Also on the agenda:

  • Participate in the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Beijing Government and the DC Arts and Humanities Commission. The two cities will mutually agree to enhance the creative economy and cultural connections between their communities by establishing forums and meetings to exchange ideas and by supporting training opportunities.
  • Announcing the partnership between the District’s Howard University and Central University of Finance and Economics in Beijing to launch a global master’s of business administration certificate program.
  • Visiting and touring No. 65 Middle School in Beijing in an effort to establish a Sister School Relationship with McKinley Technology Education Campus in the District.
  • Announcing a new economic-development partnership between China and the District of Columbia.

    • The trip begin on September 3.

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