Consul General Wendy Lyle Promotes Public Diplomacy in Western Hubei

June 17-23, 2009: Consul General Wendy Lyle traveled to Yichang, Chanyang, Qingjiang, Jingzhou and Honghu in western Hubei to engage political and community leaders and identify potential collaborators for U.S. exchange programs in the fields of environmental protection, women and minority rights, American studies, sustainable development, cultural preservation and news media. 

A big banner welcomed Consul General Lyle at Three Gorges University campus

In Yichang, a city with a population of over four million known for its neighboring Three Gorges Dam, Consul General Lyle was warmly greeted by the mayor as well as the director and deputy director of the Yichang Foreign Affairs Office.  She toured Lijiangxi Wastewater Management Plant, held amiable discussions with women leaders at Yichang Federation of Women, and held roundtable discussions with the president and professors and students of Three Gorges University on DOS exchange programs and cross cultural communication and civic education issues. 

Consul General Lyle toured Linjiang Waste Water Management Plant (left) and a “New Village” (right) in western Hubei

In Changyang, a minority county with a population of 400 thousand, Consul General Lyle was enthusiastically greeted by the head of Tujia Minority Autonomous County and two of his deputies.   She discussed U.S. collaborative projects at Changyang Minority Museum and Qingjiang sustainable development zone.  

Consul General Lyle visited Greenfood Production (left) and Yizhi Biotechnology Company (right) in Qingjiang

In Jingzhou, an industrial and cultural center with a population of 6.5 million, Consul General Lyle was greeted by the mayor and a team of senior government officials.  She was escorted by two deputy mayors respectively when she went to Jingzhou Museum to discuss the Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation project, and later to Jingzhou Media Group to do a follow-up meeting on a TV co-production project.  She visited Yangtze University to engage the leadership, reach out to students and distribute U.S. Embassy publications. At the suggestion of the Mayor, she visited the Honghu area to tour the “New Village” and sustainable development projects. 

An electronic billboard at Jingzhou TV welcoming Consul General Lyle and a solar street light in a “New Village” near Honghu

Consul General Lyle’s visits to Yichang, Jingzhou and Changyang were widely covered by the local media.  She was interviewed by Jingzhou News.com and Jingzhou TV during her visit to Jingzhou Media Group.  The visits generated a long list of potential collaborative programs and further cultivated constructive and productive relationships.