"Visit from China: Officials study security at Elko's airport"

Saturday, November 13, 2004

Visit from China: Officials study security at Elko's airport 
By MARIANNE KOBAK
The Elko (NV) Daily Free Press


ELKO - East met West Thursday as Chinese officials got a taste of Elko and a
tour of security at the Elko Regional Airport.

Shunde Vice Gov. Pan Zhiwen and Shunde Police Chief Mo Detu visited Elko to
learn about the city and for a tour of airport security. They were invited
by Steve Greshner, chief executive officer of Hummingbird Defense Systems.
Hummingbird operates the security systems at the airport. 

Pan and Mo also talked with Elko Councilman Glen Guttry, Elko City Manager
Curtis Calder and Elko Regional Airport Director Cris Jensen during their
visit.

Guttry said the visit was informative.

Pan's position is similar to a vice mayor in the United States and an
economic development director.

"Mr. Pan's position is similar to (Elko County Economic Diversification
Authority executive director) Elaine Barkdull," Guttry said. "He's a
salesman for his city."

Located in southern China about an hour's boat ride from Hong Kong, Shunde
covers 800 square kilometers and has a resident population of about 1.1
million. It is an industrial city and totals about 2 million in population
if the workers who commute to the city are added in, Pan told city officials
through an interpreter.

By Chinese standards, Shunde is a small city.

The city is about 500 years old and used to be mainly agricultural, but now
consists almost entirely of manufacturing companies. Its main products are
small appliances and furniture.

Pan said he is an elected official and that many government officials in
small cities or villages are elected by the people, similar to how U.S.
officials are elected.

Shunde also competes with other cities for businesses just like Elko
competes with other cities here, Guttry said.

"I'm surprised at how many similarities there were," he said. "It very well
could be another sister city."

Pan and Mo, through an interpreter, said they enjoyed the visit.

Pan said he was "very comfortable here."

Mo said both cities are "so friendly" and he was "very satisfied with the
visit."

Jensen said he thought the visit went well.

"It's great to meet people from another country," Jensen said. "We may have
a future relationship with them, I hope. ... The visit kind of reconfirmed
we're all just people and really we're all very much alike."

Pan told Jensen he thought there is a lot of misconception about China in
America, just as there are a lot of Chinese misconceptions about the U.S. He
told Jensen all the people hear about, on both sides, are the governments
but their opinions change once they meet the common people.


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