ST. LOUIS, MO, U.S.A. - Growing relationships grows trade. This April, the China National Baseball Team visited St. Louis to show their desire for exchange with Cardinal Nation. As a result, their visit proved that St. Louis’ commitment to international efforts is deeply supported by the local community.

As emerging markets develop, a new middle class is on the rise. China alone, a nation of 1.3 billion people, represents an untapped market of billions of baseball fans. China National Baseball Team came to St. Louis for a first-hand experience of the energy and passion that baseball has created all over America. St. Louis Cardinals look to develop their brand in China while helping China develop their own unique baseball culture. Local companies such as Rawlings are already part of this story. “Rawlings' interest is to expand globally and the China National Baseball Team is a key component in making that happen,” said Robert Parish, President of Rawlings. 

Success in overseas markets creates jobs back home. This objective is shared by the multiple local organizations who supported the team’s visit, including; World Trade Center St. Louis, St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, St. Louis – Nanjing, China Sister Cities, St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission, Kit Bond Strategies, South West Airlines, the Asian American Chamber of Commerce, Rawlings, and, most importantly, St. Louis Cardinals. Together, we see St. Louis as a global city; a city with a legacy of immigrant contributions to our cultural and economic growth. And only together can we build bridges that lead to global economic prosperity.

(PHOTO: China National Baseball team at Busch Stadium with retired Senator Kit Bond, Secretary-General Wei Shen of China National Baseball Association, and Tim Nowak, Executive Director of World Trade Center St. Louis)

For more information on this article, please contact Jana Nester, WTC St. Louis, at JNester@stlpartnership.com.