* From today’s edition of ShanghaiDaily.com…

Business, cultural and educational cooperation between the United States and China stepped up further with Illinois Governor Pat Quinn leading a trade delegation to Shanghai today and signing a string of agreements.

Among the business deals, Shanghai Bio Pharmaceutics Association inked a letter of intent with the Illinois Science and Technology Coalition for closer ties in research and development.

Also, Xiamen C&D Inc announced plans to purchase 250,000 metric tons of Illinois corn products valued at US$70 million by December 2012.

“Agriculture and bio technology in Illinois are big business. I am sure there are huge opportunities if we can enhance cooperation with China in these sectors,” Quinn said.

* Illinois Radio Network…

While Governor Pat Quinn is in China drumming up business for Illinois, a new study says trade with China is costing the state thousands of jobs.

The number; 118,200 over the last 10 years, according to a report by the left-leaning Economic Policy Institute. The losses, says Robert E. Scott, director of manufacturing and trade policy research, have been in areas such as steel and machine tools.

“In Illinois you also have a large number of firms involved in industries like auto parts production and fabricated metal products, and those are industries that were hurt by the growth of imports from China,” he said. […]

Scott blames currency manipulation, and says the situation would turn around if Chinese currency were priced by the world market.

* AP…

Nutritionists and food scientists tout Asian carp as low in mercury because they don’t eat other fish and are high in Omega-3 fatty acids. Illinois has been sending some of its carp to China, where the demand is high. This week, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, who is in China, sampled carp, reportedly saying it tasted like tilapia.

* Bloomberg News…

Sales of Asian carp to China are part of efforts to bolster shipments to the state’s third-biggest export market, Quinn said today.

“We want children to learn the Chinese language, the history, the culture,” Quinn said. “Our goal is to be the most Chinese-friendly state in the union.”

* And a photo from our traveling governor’s Twitter account…

Caption?

       

55 Comments - How Ironic - Thursday, Sep 22, 11 @ 7:27 am: Are you Mr. Soy Sauce? I’m Soy Boy from Illinois. - Way Way Down Here - Thursday, Sep 22, 11 @ 7:42 am: Governor, this gentleman is Chinese. He is? Boy, have I got some carp to sell you. - Bill - Thursday, Sep 22, 11 @ 7:52 am: Believe it or not, in the Land of Lincoln we throw those carp away and eat cows and pigs. - Retired Non-Union Guy - Thursday, Sep 22, 11 @ 8:05 am: We’re glad to keep shipping jobs overseas … Would you like some home grown carp? - Fed Up - Thursday, Sep 22, 11 @ 8:11 am: Governor, you keep changing your order. Did you finally decide on the Egg Foo Young, General’s Chicken, Sweet and Sour pork or Beef With Oyster Sauce ? - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 22, 11 @ 8:21 am: “I know we don’t have the ‘best’ credit rating in Illinois, but will you take an IOU anyway?” - OneMan - Thursday, Sep 22, 11 @ 8:22 am: Governor Quinn then said “I for one, welcome our new overlords” - zatoichi - Thursday, Sep 22, 11 @ 8:32 am: You are Bruce Lee’s cousin? - wordslinger - Thursday, Sep 22, 11 @ 8:34 am: Chinese Official, Thought Balloon: “This Quinn has more chins than a Shanghai phonebook.” - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 22, 11 @ 8:35 am: “Governor, let me introduce to you the man who bought Quincy, Decatur, West Chicago, and Pekin …” - MrJM - Thursday, Sep 22, 11 @ 8:37 am: “It’s true — If you start digging yourself a deep enough hole in Illinois, eventually you’ll end up in China.” – MrJM - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 22, 11 @ 8:40 am: “Thank you for meeting with me, as we say in MY country; A donut without a hole is a danish…” - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 22, 11 @ 8:44 am: “I got that letter you sent me translated, and Yes, I was seriously asking for help, and NO I am not a Bufoon.” - Damfunny - Thursday, Sep 22, 11 @ 8:50 am: “No, I’m not on WKRP!” - 3rd Generation Chicago Native - Thursday, Sep 22, 11 @ 8:57 am: No I’m not Mr. Potato Head, I’m the Governor. - Jake From Elwood - Thursday, Sep 22, 11 @ 9:00 am: Do not worry sir. I will not reveal your ancient Chinese secret to anyone. The travel size box of Calgon is stored safely in Betsy. - MeAgain - Thursday, Sep 22, 11 @ 9:04 am: “Hi I’m Governor Quinn and I invented the Internet’ - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 22, 11 @ 9:05 am: “What did he say” “Governor, he said he loves when you ramble on and on and no one can follow you thoughts. Makes for good ’sleepy time’ when he is up too late” - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 22, 11 @ 9:08 am: “No, no … I am NOT Joe Biden. I’m Pat Quinn … Governor … of Illinois …” - Dirty Red - Thursday, Sep 22, 11 @ 9:13 am: Oswego Willy (8:35) for the win. - just sayin' - Thursday, Sep 22, 11 @ 9:15 am: You people have some great Chinese food over here. - Pot calling kettle - Thursday, Sep 22, 11 @ 9:17 am: None of the Chinese hosts would admit to understanding English, but the Governor continued to recruit an audience to listen to his remarks. - Alexander cut the knot. - Thursday, Sep 22, 11 @ 9:18 am: You bet! You guys buy more corn and I’ll make sure we take the the “ll” out of Illinois - what letter do you want? What’s that? Oh, yeah, you invest in rapid-rail and you don’t have to pronounce the “s” either, we drop it all the time. - OneMan - Thursday, Sep 22, 11 @ 9:20 am: Governor Quinn thanks his translator not realizing at one point the translator translated his comments as “The governor is rambling about carp, rivers, President Lincoln and people, I would suggest you just look like you are paying attention and until he finishes I will give you some sports scores” - Esquire - Thursday, Sep 22, 11 @ 9:29 am: So, am I understanding you correctly when you say that there is no criminal extradition treaty between our two countries? So, hypothetically, if this thing doesn’t work out as planned, to paraphrase Rod, I could parachute myself over the Great Wall and claim political asylum or sanctuary or whatever? - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 22, 11 @ 9:30 am: “I am big fan of your ‘Fire Drill’…” - Shore - Thursday, Sep 22, 11 @ 9:31 am: I have a great deal to carp about when I get home. - RetiredStateEmployee - Thursday, Sep 22, 11 @ 9:48 am: If you will just loan me $8 billion. I’m good for it. Really! - Left Out - Thursday, Sep 22, 11 @ 10:01 am: Do I have a carp for you! - Curious - Thursday, Sep 22, 11 @ 10:02 am: To OW at 9:30: I just shot water out of my nose. That was funny. - Ghost of John Brown - Thursday, Sep 22, 11 @ 10:07 am: Our state economy saved by the Asian Carp. Oooooh boy, I’m excited. - NIref - Thursday, Sep 22, 11 @ 10:09 am: Came for the soy boy reference, leaving satisfied. - Dinsdale - Thursday, Sep 22, 11 @ 10:24 am: Governor Quinn at a midnight tour of the Fukushima Nuclear Reactor. - Been There - Thursday, Sep 22, 11 @ 10:32 am: Hey, guy to the left of me, How do you spell J.O.B.S. in Chinese. - 47th Ward - Thursday, Sep 22, 11 @ 10:53 am: All your carp are belong to us. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 22, 11 @ 11:05 am: Thanks, curious… - Boone Logan Square - Thursday, Sep 22, 11 @ 11:10 am: “I will need a wakeup call.” - Hot Sauce - Thursday, Sep 22, 11 @ 11:22 am: Have you ever met Tony Rezko? Panda Express, you gotta try it. - walkinfool - Thursday, Sep 22, 11 @ 11:33 am: MJM 8:37 priceless - DSch - Thursday, Sep 22, 11 @ 12:11 pm: Speaking in Pekin, Governor Quinn reassured Chinese officials he was no “Lame Duck” before asking if they had seen Betsy. - Ghost - Thursday, Sep 22, 11 @ 12:21 pm: This whole thing is fishy, perhaps we should fomr a joint comission to explore the fishing, agriculture and reasearch possibilited between our two countries. I remeber reading a report once that discussed problems customers were havng with the consumer board, so i started a group to help consumers get fare rates for their electiricty. I wasthinking of trying some chinnese food while I was here, although you just probably call it food here. But thats how I tink we can put moreIllinois to work, and benefit both our Countries by working together to stop things that are bad. Have you ever had Tilapia? - JustMe - Thursday, Sep 22, 11 @ 12:34 pm: Photographer: Hey, look, a kitty! - Irish - Thursday, Sep 22, 11 @ 12:45 pm: Chinese Official - This man have handshake like fish. No wonder Carp their biggest export. - Irish - Thursday, Sep 22, 11 @ 12:51 pm: Photographer in back, left; - I am not shooting that angle. Oh she’s cute! - Irish - Thursday, Sep 22, 11 @ 12:54 pm: Chinese Official - Oh that’s okay we will take all the carp you can send us. We will just dye it and send it back to you labeled farm raised salmon. Translator - I can’t tell him that. Chinese official - Just tell him I said this will provide thousand jobs for hard working families in Land of Lincoln, then run get me and you some coffee we are going to need it. - D.P. Gumby - Thursday, Sep 22, 11 @ 1:03 pm: “Is that a carp in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?” - Crabby645 - Thursday, Sep 22, 11 @ 2:41 pm: mr. govenor, may introduce the #1 karoke singer in america - Cincinnatus - Thursday, Sep 22, 11 @ 3:57 pm: 快速。有人误会我的一些无水洗手液 - dumb ol' country boy - Thursday, Sep 22, 11 @ 4:06 pm: Translator…” Governor Quinn these Chinese man makes neck ties out of asian carp.. Gov-” wow I see no fishy smell either…find out how much working capital he has….hummmm interesting” - Lil Enchilada - Thursday, Sep 22, 11 @ 4:13 pm: Quinn: My tie was made in China, was yours? - Rich Miller - Thursday, Sep 22, 11 @ 4:54 pm: Very clever, Cincinnatus. Very clever. - Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 22, 11 @ 5:32 pm: Well Played Cincinnatus … Well Played! - Boone Logan Square - Thursday, Sep 22, 11 @ 5:54 pm: As long as the hand sanitizer is not from Wisconsin… - South of the Loop - Thursday, Sep 22, 11 @ 8:41 pm: Cincinatuas @ 3:57 - Das Man - Friday, Sep 23, 11 @ 7:06 am: I am a dog lover too, Governor Quinn - how did you like the egg rolls? Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.