Over the years, Puerto Rico has wooed visitors and investors with beaches, sun, tax breaks and splashy public works. Now the Caribbean island wants to add an outpost of Chinese culture, complete with graceful pavilions and regional cuisine.

 

Yang’s firm, which has more 5,200 lawyers in 42 Chinese offices and another 2,000 in 88 offices abroad, has already acted on its convictions that Puerto Rico is an island of opportunity by opening the Yingke Caribbean China Centre in San Juan last year. The facility is one of many regional hubs it has throughout the world to help businesspeople connect with local partners, lawyers and accountants, and hosted the March investment forum.

 

“On the one hand, the bankruptcy gives some signals that there is some risk for this region. On the other hand, after the bankruptcy, it could be like a new start, a new start with many new opportunities,” Yang said.

 

Many in China have never heard of Puerto Rico. Yang’s firm hopes the Arecibo park will change that. When tourists visit, perhaps they will also purchase a condo at one of the park-side developments also in the works or visit one of their manufacturing plants.

 

“Many times, Chinese combine business travel with personal travel,” said Jeff Carmichael, chief executive of the Yingke Caribbean China Centre. The park could become “a reason for an extended stay”.