Mayor Villaraigosa visited China in 2011 to promote friendship, trade, tourism and future investments. At a press conference, Villaraigosa mentioned that Los Angeles has the largest Chinese American population. Since 2006, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Los Angeles has increased by 78 percent. In 2011, the number of tourists from PRC increased by 40 percent. Mayor Villaraigosa hoped to turn Los Angeles into a global commercial hub in the Pacific Rim.