9-19-00

Contacts:
Bing-Lin Young, IITAP, (515) 294-3989
Skip Derra, News Service, (515) 294-4917

CHINESE DELEGATION LOOKS TO SOLIDIFY IOWA TIES

AMES, Iowa -- A delegation of 13 Chinese officials is coming to Iowa State University and Des Moines Sept. 21 and 22 to sign memorandums of understanding and to expand their ties to Iowa businesses. The delegation includes scientists and politicians from Henan, China's most populous province and is headed by Tao Zhang, the province's vice governor.

"Over the years we have worked with Henan scientists and officials to help them develop sustainable technologies, technologies that help Henan province grow without further pollution of the land and air," said Bing-Lin Young, an Iowa State professor of physics and astronomy and a member of ISU's International Institute of Theoretical and Applied Physics (IITAP). "We want these projects to continue to grow and our ties with Henan to strengthen as a result."

Young said the Chinese delegation will meet with Iowa State officials and with business leaders in Des Moines. Their goal is to foster greater science and business ties to Iowa.

At 10 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 21, the Chinese delegation will meet with Des Moines Mayor Preston Daniels and former Gov. Robert Ray in the Terrace Room of the Savery Hotel. The delegation will make a presentation to Iowa businesses on opportunities in Henan province. They are looking to expand business ties in several areas including agriculture and animal husbandry, science and technology, and natural resources.

At 9 a.m., Friday, Sept. 22, the delegation will meet with ISU officials to sign a memorandum of understanding that will reaffirm and to expand projects between Henan and IITAP. Current projects include efforts to develop a commercial biomass gasifier to provide gas to homes; a watershed modeling project to determine river water quality downstream from industry; and a hydrogen generator project for the production of hydrogen fuel. The delegation will tour major ISU laboratories in the afternoon.

IITAP is collaboration between Iowa State University and the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

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