Photo by M.V. Jantzen

It says something about shifting global influence when the mayor of Washington, D.C. announces he’ll be traveling to China to expand business opportunities that he fears his city may no longer get from the federal government that occupies it, huh?

But that’s what Mayor Vince Gray and members of his economic development team will be doing this June, when they travel to China to meet with government and business leaders in Beijing, Shanghai and Suzhou. (Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development Victor Hoskins traveled to China in March.)

“To build a diversified New Economy for the District that is less dependent on the federal government, we must increase the District’s profile in the global marketplace,” said Gray in a press release announcing the trip. “This trip will help our local businesses better compete around the world and create jobs here at home.”

The trip follows news that D.C. has established a business office in Shanghai to help advertise businesses and opportunities in D.C. Reported the City Paper on the office:

A big part of the job, though, would be wooing wealthy people who want a safe spot for their money. The District has an advantage in that regard: Being in the President’s backyard carries a certain amount of cache. Right now, a lot of that cash is coming through the EB5 program, which allows foreigners to essentially buy a green card in exchange for investing $1 million in a new business enterprise. Shao brought in some dollars for an Anne Arundel County casino that way. In the District, O Street Market and the Marriott Marquis hotel got $5 million in EB5 money each.

According to the press release, Gray and a delegation of up to 25 people (including five senior D.C. officials) will seek to match “District businesses with potential Chinese partners as well as meeting with potential foreign investors about opportunities in the District’s booming real estate market.” Gray will also renew D.C.’s sister-city relationship with Beijing, and take part in an international conference on sustainability. (Bring back Butterstick!)

If you’re worried about scarce taxpayer funds being used for the trip, fear not—Gray’s office says that the city of Beijing and other potential sponsors will be covering the costs. And unlike some travel-related secrecy that got Mayor Adrian Fenty in trouble, the press release noted that “associated expenses and trip sponsors will be shared publicly once they are finalized.” (Two Fenty trips—one to China, the other to the United Arab Emirates—were paid for in part by those governments.)

This is Gray’s first big trip abroad as D.C.’s mayor. Fenty traveled some, but no one has yet come close to the international sojourns taken by former Mayor Anthony Williams.

And no, our guess is that Marion Barry won’t be joining Gray for this one.