Sen. Baucus Announces Rocky Mountain Ballet Theater To Perform At Shanghai World Expo

Senator Highlights Montana Ties to Asia-Pacific Region as Part of World Ambassadors’ Tour of Montana Leading up to Butte Jobs Summit

Montana’s senior U.S. Senator Max Baucus stood with Chinese Ambassador to the United States Zhang Yesui yesterday to announce that the Missoula-based Rocky Mountain Ballet Theatre, led by Director Charlene Campbell, is set to perform at the U.S. Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo later this month. Working hand and hand with Senator Baucus, Ambassador Zhang and the Chinese Embassy were instrumental in paving the way for the dance troupe’s trip to Shanghai.

“America’s ties with the Asia-Pacific region are not only good for our country, but also for Montana. ” said Baucus. “The Asia-Pacific region is home to some of Montana’s most important trading partners, and cultural exchanges like these help us deepen our countries’ ties and better understand each other. I am particularly proud of the Rocky Mountain Ballet Theatre and the impressive way they represent Montana around the state and around the world.”

Baucus and Ambassador Zhang made the announcement yesterday at a lunch celebrating the launch of the Montana Host Committee for key 2011 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings in Big Sky. Baucus brought ambassadors from China, Chile, Ireland, Japan and New Zealand to join the Host Committee kick-off celebration and tour the state to promote Montana agriculture, manufacturing and tourism before attending his Economic Development Summit in Butte, September 13 and 14.

Following yesterday’s announcement at the lunch, the Rocky Mountain Ballet Theatre performed for the ambassadors, Administration officials, government leaders and Montana businesses leaders in attendance. Also at the lunch, Baucus and Japanese Ambassador to the United States Ichiro Fujisaki announced that Japan donated a collection of Academy Award-winning director Hayao Miyazaki’s films to the Mansfield Center as a gesture of continued cultural collaboration between Montana and Japan.

Baucus fought hard to bring the 2011 APEC Trade Ministers and Small-and-Medium-Sized Enterprises meetings to Montana. The meetings will bring cabinet-level representatives from 21 APEC members, along with hundreds of other officials, to Big Sky next May to discuss ways to deepen the trade and economic relationships of APEC’s member countries.

Yesterday’s lunch followed an event at Gallatin Field Airport formally kicking off the Montana Host Committee, which will play a critical role in ensuring the trade meeting’s success. Following the lunch, the ambassadors took a horseback ride through Big Sky to showcase where the 2011 meeting will take place.