Because the DowntownDC BID is the city’s oldest and largest business improvement district, executives are called on periodically to assist visiting delegations from cities around the world. This summer, Rick Reinhard, the DowntownDC BID’s deputy executive director, met with 14 high-ranking government officials from the Chinese central and local governments, who were in town to discuss and exchange ideas on urban and environmental topics. Reinhard briefed the delegation on BIDs, relayed how Downtown’s remarkable transformation is a byproduct of strong public-private partnerships, and conducted a walking tour of Chinatown. Wang Ning, Director-General of the Chinese Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, led the delegation, which convened in the Mayor’s Ceremonial Room at the John A. Wilson Building (1350 Pennsylvania Avenue). City Administrator Allen Lew concluded the nearly three-hour visit by providing insights about local urban management planning and the basic public services offered by the DC government.
