Oregon Public Broadcasting

Some members of the Portland Business Alliance are recovering from jetlag, after a nine-day trip to China.

While Oregon already has deep trade ties with China, there's interest on both sides of the Pacific in strengthening the relationship.  

The visitors included staff from the Port of Portland, several law firms, as well as construction and engineering companies.

Steve Holwerda, chair of the Business Alliance Board, says he found Chinese executives ready to make deals. He was especially impressed after spending a day in a riverside city south of Shanghai. 

Steve Holwerda  "It's no different there than it is here. We went to their Port. And it was basically empty. There were a hundred thousand cargo containers sitting there empty. There were no ships being loaded or unloaded when we were there. That gives you an idea what their economy is like."

Holwerda says group members made some connections he hopes will pan out for wood products firms and sustainable designers in the Portland area.