They call it a trade mission. Republicans and Democrats from Ogden, Bountiful, Price and Santa Clara will "establish relations" in Liaoning Province, "plant seeds" and "broaden" their horizons.
Airfare: $26,000. Hotels: $10,000. The cost of protocol: priceless.
C'mon. Let's call this what it is: a junket.
It could be argued legislators got themselves into this tight spot - struggling to justify eight days of gladhanding at receptions and banquets (and one day of sightseeing at the Great Wall and Forbidden City) on the taxpayers' tab.
A year ago, at the urging of a Weber State University professor from China, legislators signed one of those seemingly harmless resolutions establishing a "sister state" relationship with a part of China few could locate on a map.
Ever sticklers for etiquette, the Chinese responded with not one, but two visits to Utah. Faced with an international incident if they didn't reciprocate, legislative leaders planned a trip of their own.
House Majority Leader Dave Clark and taxpayer watchdog Howard Stephenson, a Republican senator from Draper, insist lawmakers are "second-tier" ambassadors following on the heels of Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.'s trade mission to China last fall. But with no entrepreneurs along for the ride this time, this looks like globetrekking to avoid offending some people legislators hadn't heard of a couple years ago.
Former President Eisenhower launched the White House Conference on Citizen Diplomacy in 1956, smack in the heat of the Cold War. American cities jumped in with both feet, forming "sister city" relationships first with communities in Europe and later in Africa and Asia. Sister State agreements are an offshoot of the Sister City program.
"Every citizen a diplomat" is groovy. But in a global world, these sibling relationships now seem quaint.
Salt Lake City enthusiastically embraced Eisenhower's brand of international relations. Its sisters dot the globe, from Mali to the Philippines.
And the worldwide family has cost the city. Inevitably, Salt Lake City's sisters outdo Utah's capital. For 40 years, delegations from Matsumoto, Japan, flew in nearly every year for the Days of '47. Once in a while, a gift arrived - a samurai helmet, Japanese doll and stone bonsai tree. The city responded more frugally with a painting of the City-County Building, picture books and buffalo sculptures. Salt Lake City leaders finally went to Japan, taking the train from nearby Nagano during the 1998 Winter Games. No one's been back. Now, potential sister cities must have a local sponsor to cover some of the cost and maintain relations.
State leaders are relative novices at this kind of diplomacy. A link with a region of South Korea has gone dormant through neglect.
The appeal is obvious: A sister state is an easy excuse to travel and see the world. No doubt some lawmakers sincerely believe they are building international relationships.
But with the Internet and jet travel and global corporations now the norm, is sending 13 Utah lawmakers and two staff members to China really necessary?
Price Democratic Sen. Mike Dmitrich wants to talk about mining with someone, anyone. Taylorsville Republican Rep. Kory Holdaway is focused on establishing higher-education ties. Clark is simply boasting about Utah.
"We would be more derelict in our duty if we did not take the opportunity to promote the economic vitality of our state," he said in May.
Others seem to recognize the political pitfalls of this trip. House Speaker Greg Curtis and Senate President John Valentine were smart enough to stay home this time.
Once they heard my questions, staff of Washington-based Sister Cities International did not call back.
Fifty years ago, Eisenhower said his "people-to-people program" would "work out not one method but thousands of methods by which people can gradually learn a little bit more of each other."
I have just one question: Can they do that by phone?
walsh@sltrib.com
