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It doesn’t take much to realize that Oakland is one of the most diverse cities in the country. Take a stroll through Chinatown and see and meet the businesspeople and residents who make this one of the finest, most bustling areas on the West Coast.

Then to the Fruitvale District to see, smell and taste the flavors of Mexico. Or to International Boulevard, aptly named for its diversity.

Oakland’s residents speak different languages, eat different foods, pray at different churches, and speak different dialects. But even with the potpourri of backgrounds, they live together as a beautiful tapestry of cultures.

And while Oakland has become famous for its diversity, it’s also become known for the variety of Pacific Rim countries with which it trades.

Trade has been with us for thousands of years. Long before nations had names, or writing to record them, people were trading with their neighbors to get the things they wanted in exchange for the things they already had. And with the Port of Oakland, this city has the economic engine that can drive it to even greater heights.

The Port has grown from its early days as a harbor for square-riggers and steamships to the fourth largest international container port in the United States, making it a vital link to the rest of the nation.

The Asian economies on the Pacific Rim are Oakland’s primary trading partners – Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China and the Republic of Singapore. In all, more than 30 shipping lines call at Oakland, linking the Bay Area to the world’s major producing, consuming and trading economies.