Emanuel Signs Trade Agreement With Mexico City
CHICAGO (AP/CBS) -- Rahm Emanuel has made his first international trip as Chicago mayor.
Emanuel's office said Thursday that he is in Mexico City where he will sign the Global Cities Economic Partnership with the mayor of Mexico City. Emanuel also is scheduled to meet with civic and business leaders interested in the Chicago market. He'll also stop at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Chicago and Mexico City have been sister cities since 1991. Mayor Emanuel's office says more than 1.5 million people of Mexican descent live in Chicago.
Emanuel began his day by paying his respects in a symbolic visit to a national shrine, CBS 2 Chief Correspondent Jay Levine reports. Our Lady of Guadalupe is an important symbol for this largely Roman Catholic country.
The mayor placed flowers near the altar and viewed the iconic painting millions come to see every year.
As he was visiting the basilica, his tourism chief, Choose Chicago's Don Welsh, was speaking to local travel agents being encouraged to sell Chicago to prospective tourists.
The mayor credited Choose Chicago for a 41 percent increase in tourism from Mexico.
Later, Emanuel moved on to city hall, which was surrounded by riot police. They were on guard 24 hours a day during a battle between the city and its teachers union over salary and benefits – a not unfamiliar conflict to Mayor Emanuel.
Emanuel is scheduled to return on Friday.
Chicago trails only Los Angeles in the number of ethnic Mexican residents.
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