"Nu Skin was attempting to invest in China at that time and to build a presence in China," Gamette said. "I'm sure they spent a lot of time, effort and money in different ways, but I think this relationship strengthened Nu Skin's position as they approached other government agencies in China."

Nu Skin opened retail stores in China in January 2003 and was awarded a direct-selling license in August 2006.

Nu Skin now has 160 retail stores — one of the first was opened in downtown Nanning — and service centers, four manufacturing facilities and two laboratories in China, company spokeswoman Kara Schneck said. Nu Skin has invested more than $100 million in mainland China.

"We certainly appreciate the relationships the mayor has been able to establish in China," Schneck said. "We believe that our approval for the direct-selling license has been a reflection of our conservative business approach and our long-term focus on the market, as well as our willingness to abide by the regulations there."

Provo gives Nanning a crucial link to the United States and to Brigham Young University, which the delegation visited again on this trip along with a stop at Nu Skin.

"Provo is an advanced city in an advanced county, and we would like to learn advanced knowledge in administration," Huang said. "Our aim is for cooperation because we are trying to build Nanning into a larger international city."

Nanning is a three-hour flight from Beijing and a three-hour flight from Jakarta, and the delegation said the Chinese central government is working to make Nanning the hub of southwestern China and the 10 southeast Asian countries.

Nanning's six other sister cities are in Australia, the United Kingdom, Austria, South Korea, Vietnam and Thailand.

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E-mail: twalch@desnews.com