San Benito officials going to China ‘on business'

SAN BENITO — Mayor Joe Hernandez and City Manager Manuel Lara will travel to China on an invitation to an economic development conference, Hernandez said Monday.

Hernandez and Lara will attend the International Conference on Urban Development and Innovation on Feb. 23 and 24 in Shenzhen, a major port city north of Hong Kong, according to the invitation dated Dec. 25.

Lara did not return phone calls, but Hernandez said the invitation is the result of Lara’s association with a San Antonio man who has connections in China. The conference organizers will pay all expenses.

Shenzhen Mayor Xu Qin invited Hernandez and other officials to speak at the conference that will focus on urban development, the invitation states.

Hernandez said he hopes to establish Chinese contacts that could bring business to San Benito.

"We’re trying to get international business in San Benito," Hernandez said.

Hernandez said he will present Chinese officials with business opportunities that could arise as a result of economic engines such as the Free Trade Bridge at Los Indios, of which San Benito is part owner, and the Port Isabel-San Benito Navigation District’s port.

"We’re going to have to go there and sell San Benito real good as far as business," Hernandez said.

The mayors of San Antonio and Houston are among officials invited to the conference, Hernandez said.

The conference will be held by the city of Shenzhen, China’s Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Construction and Phoenix Satellite TV, the invitation said.

"Focusing on innovation and sustainable development of cities and on exploring a series of important issues regarding urban development, the conference aims to study and explore the urban development and innovation through building a platform for the exchange and cooperation among cities and providing intellectual support for innovation and development of cities around the world," Xu Qin wrote in the invitation said.

"Taking account of your respected influence, it is my great honor to invite you to speak at this conference and to share your insights with our delegates with regard to urban development and innovation," the invitation said.

City officials applied for Hernandez’s passport for the trip, City Secretary Lupita Passement said, adding that Lara has a passport.

Hernandez said he and his wife haven’t decided whether they would pay expenses to allow her to travel with him.