Programs & Events

Formal Launch of VPP Harbin

CG Steve Wickham, VPP Harbin Team members, Acting PAO Anny  Ho and Consulate Staff attend the 20th China Harbin Int’l Economic and Trade Fair to announce the formal launch of VPP Harbin.	VPP Harbin Team members – from left:  Jonathan Yoo (Pol/Econ), Yasue Pai (FCS), Brandon Jackson (Cons) and James Butterworth (FAS).
CG Steve Wickham formally announces the launch of VPP Harbin.	Consular Officer Bridget Lines gives B1/B2 visa presentation to audience during VPP Harbin launch event.

On June 15, Consul General Steve Wickman led an 11-person delegation from the Consulate to formally launch the creation of Virtual Presence Post (VPP) Harbin at the U.S. Business Info Session of the 20th China Harbin International Economic and Trade Fair.  Beijing’s Transformational Diplomacy (TD) Officer and Shenyang Acting PAO Anny Ho acted as emcee and interpreter for the event.  CG Wickham discussed the importance of Harbin City and Heilongjiang Province to the United States, introduced the 4-member interagency VPP Harbin Team and previewed the new VPP Harbin website for the 80-some audience members.  VPP Harbin FAS member Jim Butterworth introduced the ATO office and its objectives while VPP Harbin FCS member Yasue Pai discussed the Invest in America program.  Consular officer Bridget Lines gave a B1/B2 tourist/business visa presentation and fielded questions for the audience.  IRC Assistant Xiao Bai set up and manned the U.S. information table, distributing free materials such as Xinjiaoliu, Info USA CDs, IIP Publications and Obama biographies.