Vice President Biden Cites Importance of Small Cities in South Gate Visit

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Vice President Joe Biden and Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping visited students at the International Studies Learning Center, a school with a strong Asian language program for middle and high school students in South Gate.

Both leaders encouraged the students to learn more about China, according to the Los Angeles Times.

All members of the South Gate City Council were present for this event, and managed to take a picture with Biden. 

Councilman Gil Hurtado said he appreciated Biden’s down-to-earth manner after sharing a few words during the event.

“The vice president seemed like a regular guy,” said Hurtado. “I shook his hand briefly, and we had a nice little discussion.”

According to Hurtado, their conversation centered around the importance of small cities like South Gate, and the support they need from the federal government.

“Small cities in the United States suffer as much as big cities,” said Hurtado. “I felt very comfortable with what [Biden] told me, which is that they are going to look out more for cities like South Gate.”  

Xi, who is expected to become China's president next year, was in the last day of his United States tour on Friday, according to USA TODAY. He has been urging the U.S. and China to build closer ties and has asserted that Americans benefit from trade with his country.