Mayor preparing for trip to China

HATTIESBURG — Hattiesburg Mayor Johnny DuPree will travel to Linyi, China, in March.

Linyi is south of Shandong province and has a population of about 10 million people.

DuPree tells the Hattiesburg American that he and his staff will be joined by some faculty and staff from William Carey University. The school shares a formal relationship with Linyi.

DuPree says the city’s only expense will be airline tickets. Linyi officials are handling all other expenses.

DuPree said Linyi’s mayor invited him to see some of the economic opportunities of the China providence.