The Honorable Qiao Hong, Consul General of China will be speaking at Lone Star College-North Harris campus on Thursday, Dec. 4, at noon in the colleges Performing Arts Theatre located at 2700 W.W. Thorne Drive in North Houston.  

The event is sponsored by the LSC-North Harris International Studies Program. LSC-North Harris has a large international student population representing more than 80 countries around the world and enjoys bringing a global perspective to the students on campus. The Consul will be discussing, "An Introduction to China and the China-U.S. Relationship."

Currently, China and the United States are critically linked. In 2007, the total trade between the United States and China trade rose to $387 billion, which includes a large and growing trade deficit of $256 billion.

"Lone Star College-North Harris is fortunate to host the Consul General of China, the first woman to hold this diplomatic position," states Dr. McGinley, professor of history. "With the Olympic Games recently held in Beijing, the world's attention was on the nation of China. Our hope is to promote international education and foster mutual understanding of the international community." 

According to the Web site of the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Houston, the Chinese Consulate General in Houston covers a consular jurisdiction of eight American Southern states and a self-governing commonwealth: Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida and Puerto Rico. The consulate is committed to the exchanges and cooperation between China and the above-listed states in the areas of economy and trade, science and technology as well as culture etc., protecting the rights and interests of the Chinese citizens in its consular areas according to law and offering the services like approving and issuing visa and appropriate papers.

For more information about this event, please call Dr. McGinley at 281.618.5586.

Lone Star College-North Harris is located at 2700 W.W. Thorne Drive, one-half mile south of FM 1960 E, between Aldine-Westfield and Hardy Roads. For more information about the college, call 281.618.5400 or visit: NorthHarris.LoneStar.edu.

Lone Star College System consists of five colleges, including CyFair, Kingwood, Montgomery, North Harris, and Tomball, six centers and Lone Star College-University Center. It is the largest college system in the Houston area, and third largest community college district in Texas. To learn more, visit LoneStar.edu.

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Nov. 21, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE            

Media Contact:
C.C. Sutphen
281.618.5425, desk
281.639.6581, cell