Dear China, I luv you! Luv, GA! ;)

Shanghai will soon be assaulted by fanny packs and funny accents. Delta Air Lines officially announced today that our hometown airline, starting March 30, 2008, will provide nonstop flights between Atlanta and the Chinese city.

If all of the wishful thinking Gov. Perdue utters at press conferences comes true — much like how he did this Delta deal several weeks ago when he announced the arrival of our benevolent friends Sany Heavy Industry to Peachtree City — then look for Atlanta to get the next Chinese consulate. And after that a pretty pony. Followed by a Jet Ski. A Jet Ski that runs on wishes.

Why the nonstop flight to China? Because it takes too long to dig through the Earth! Ha! Ugh. Seriously, Georgia has been perfecting its mating dance for quite some time in hoping to attract foreign industry and establish good ties with the nation. It’s paid off, too. I pass the mic to MC Press Release:

In June 2006, Chinese food processing machinery manufacturer Ningbo Lehui Food Machinery Co., Ltd. announced that it had formed a joint venture with New Jersey-based W.Y. Industries, Inc. That joint venture, Kingwasong LLC, is now building a plant in Newnan, creating 200 jobs and attracting $12 million to $15 million in new investment to the area. In May 2007, China-based General Protecht Group purchased 211 acres of land in Barnesville, Lamar County, to build an assembly and distribution facility for electrical products, wired devices, and other related products.

“We are able to attract Chinese manufacturers half a world away because we’ve got everything they need: a home base located in the heart of the nation’s fastest-growing region, a low cost of doing business and access to the world through our international airport,” said Sam A. Williams, president of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, which took an active role in encouraging the project. “Now we’re working on attracting a Chinese consulate to Atlanta and a direct air route to China.”

There’s that consulate goal. Go team! I raise a glass to thee, China. May we somehow learn to stop sullying our environment together, reach higher ground as civilizations and find strength in our common goals.

Plus, we can commiserate together — their subway system looks like it might just be as bad as ours! Well, maybe not as bad.

After the jump, more press release facts about Georgia and China. So happy together ...