Establishing the Relationship
2014 — New Castle County, Delaware
NCIC identified Qiqihar — a major industrial and agricultural center in northeast China — as a strategic partner for New Castle County. Working through cross-cultural business networks spanning Philadelphia's Chinatown business community and established Asian business leaders, NCIC built the introduction that would lead to a formal government-to-government agreement.
In November 2014, Mayor Zhe Sun of Qiqihar led an official delegation to New Castle County, Delaware. The delegation signed the Sister City Agreement — a formal bilateral framework covering economy, trade, science, technology, culture, education, sports, and tourism.
The Boardroom Sessions
March 2016 — New Castle County Government Center
NCIC convened a series of high-level meetings at the New Castle County Government Center bringing together American officials, Chinese business executives, and institutional stakeholders to advance concrete economic development opportunities.
The meetings included executives from some of China's largest multinational corporations — including companies ranked among the world's top enterprises in shipping, construction, and industrial manufacturing — alongside Delaware state officials, port authority representatives, and International Longshoremen's Association leadership negotiating the future of the Port of Wilmington.
Inside the County Executive's Office
March 2016 — Office of the County Executive, Thomas Gordon
NCIC's principals were granted direct access to County Executive Thomas Gordon — then one of the most powerful elected officials in Delaware, with deep ties to the Biden political network and Democratic Party infrastructure in the state.
The relationship between NCIC's international liaison and County Executive Gordon was the foundation of the entire Delaware-China economic development initiative. NCIC served as the trusted bridge between Gordon's office and the international business community, facilitating introductions and relationship-building that no government office could accomplish independently.
The Diplomatic Exchange
March 2016 — Formal Gift & Recognition Ceremony
A formal diplomatic gift exchange was held between the Chinese delegation and Delaware leadership — a ceremony that marks the transition from initial relationship-building to sustained bilateral partnership.
The exchange included senior representatives from both governments and the Chinese corporate delegation, with NCIC principals present as the facilitating organization that made the relationship possible.
The Delegation Dinner
March 2016 — Wilmington, Delaware
NCIC organized and hosted a delegation dinner bringing together the full complement of American and Chinese stakeholders — government officials, corporate executives, port authority leadership, and civic leaders — in an informal setting to advance relationship-building beyond the boardroom.
The dinner table included US government officials, Chinese multinational executives, and Delaware community and institutional leaders — a gathering that represented the breadth of the coalition NCIC had assembled over two years of relationship-building.
