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Trade Mission to China

Women in Packaging Delegation to Visit China in spring '98 Women in Packaging, Inc. (WP) was recently selected from more than 600 international women's professional organizations to assemble a delegation of packaging professionals to visit China. To execute this historic experience, WP has partnered with the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) and the China Women's Association for Science and Technology (CWAST). WP Founding Executive Director JoAnn R. Hines was honored with the request to lead the delegation by Wu Ganmei, the Vice President and Secretary-general for the CWAST. WP, CAST, CWAST, and its affiliated packaging societies. WP members and professionals in the packaging, printing and related science industries are invited and encouraged to become part of this once in a lifetime experience. The visit to China presents a unique opportunity to learn first-hand about women in business in Asia and internationally. By this personal visit to China, visitors and CWAST members will gain mutual understanding and cooperation of our countries. This will not only be achieved through technical issues, but also the common social issues of women. The primary objective of the China delegation is to facilitate the exchange between businesswomen in this and future generations. Any and all U.S. Countries sending a professional to participate will realize their investment ten-fold. This type of executive development program or training is not available within our country. By participating in the delegation, visitors will return to their companies with strategies, applications, and methodologies to better their business. Beginning in Beijing on April 24, 1998 with an introduction to the experience of women in business in China, discussions will relate to women's issues in business development, women in the workplace, women in the Chinese society, and what advancements women have enjoyed in business opportunities. Chinese experts in packaging and environmental issues will give formal presentations based on the status and perspective of the commodities packaging in China. The other cities scheduled for visits include Nanjing, Wuxi, and Shanghai. In each city, delegates will visit packaging facilities, both highly automated and less modern. "A delegation of WP members and our supporters to China to build formal ties with women in science and technology provides an ideal companion mission to the function of WP. As founding executive director of WP, my immediate purpose for delegation participants is to build linkages between international women in science and technology," said Hines. For more information on the China delegation, check out the WP Web site at http://www.packaginghorizonsmag.com and select the WP link, e-mail WP at or send a fax request to . -3