Commissioner Terence Farrell is in Yongchuan district in southwestern China for a two week, self-funded trade mission to cultivate business and cultural ties with the district’s people and business leaders. He sends his thoughts:

“My first impressions of China, having been in Chongqing all of two days: huge city (28 million & growing), modern, clean.

“The view is from my hotel, the Intercontinental, right in the heart of downtown, where I walked 10 minutes to the mall. Shops for Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and the like abound. There MUST be a middle class, growing also.

“I have moved to a new hotel, the Grand Plaza, where I will stay and participate in the 17th China Chongqing International Investment & Trade. Having hosted a delegation from Chongqing in Chester County last October, I am the guest of the government here and no county taxpayer dollars are involved in the funding of this trip. I’ll send more photos along the way.”