At the invitation of the Chinese People''s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries , a delegation headed by Mr.Vincent C.Gray, Mayor of Washington, D.C. , visited Beijing ,Shanghai and Suzhou from June 24 to July 1, 2012. During their stay in Beijing, on June 25, Mr. Xu Kuangdi, President of the China-US People''s Friendship Association, held a reception in honor of Mayor Gray and the delegation .

President Xu Kuangdi welcomed the delegation to China and spoke highly of the positive role of sub-national exchanges in China-US relations. Mayor Gray said, he valued the cooperation with China and the purpose of the visit was to strength economic and trade relations with China and introduce to China the many business opportunities Washington, D.C could offer. During the trip, he was going to reaffirm sister-city cooperative relationship with Beijing, launch Washington DC Center in Shanghai and promote economic and trade exchanges with Suzhou.

Representatives of All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, Investment Promotion Agency of Ministry of Commerce, Foreign Affairs Office of the People''s Government of Beijing Municipality , Beijing Investment Promotion Bureau and over 20 Chinese and the U.S.entrepreneurs also attended the reception.