Recent Past Events
2010 Meetings and Events
January February March April May June July
JANUARY
Shanghai: After Copenhagen: Climate Change Policies in the United States and China
Featured Jennifer Turner, director of the China Environment Forum at the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars in Washington, DC. (Jan. 12)
Washington: Issues Briefing on 2010 Congressional and Administration Agendas
Brian Pomper, founding partner of Parven Pomper Strategies, and Timothy Keeler, counsel at Mayer Brown LLP, discussed China-related issues that the Obama administration and US Congress will likely face in 2010. (Jan. 14)
Washington: US-China Energy Briefing on Obama's China Trip Initiatives
The United States and China recently announced a package of initiatives to strengthen cooperation on clean energy. This briefing featured representatives from each of the US departments involved, including Jeff Miotke, deputy assistant secretary for Oceans, Environment, and Science at the Department of State; Geoff Jackson, director of Policy and Program and regional director for East Asia at the US Trade and Development Agency; Cheryl McQueen, senior advisor to the Office of Energy and Environmental Industries at the Department of Commerce; Mark Kasman, senior advisor for the Asia-Pacific Program in the Office of International Affairs, Environmental Protection Agency; and Matt Kallman and Rachel Tronstein, special assistants to the assistant secretary of Energy for Policy and International Affairs, Department of Energy. (Jan. 21)
Shanghai: Briefing on Shanghai Consulate's New Visa Application Procedures
Officers from the US Consulate General in Shanghai briefed USCBC member companies about the State Department's new non-immigrant visa online application form. (Jan. 22)
Washington: Forecast 2010 Reception and Conference
Attended by leading US government officials, PRC government representatives, USCBC member company executives, conference speakers, and members of the think-tank and China-watching community, the evening reception honored PRC Ambassador to the United States Zhou Wenzhong. Zhou, who returned to Beijing in February after nearly five years of service as China's leading diplomat in Washington, DC, offered farewell remarks. Representatives Rick Larsen (D, WA-2) and Mark Kirk (R, IL-10), who head the House US-China Working Group, joined in offering brief tributes and thanks to Zhou for his close collaboration with the group.
The next morning, USCBC President John Frisbie opened the Forecast conference, and Victor Shih, assistant professor at Northwestern University's Department of Political Science, presented on China's economy in 2010 and financial and regulatory trends in China's industrial policies. Bob Poole, USCBC vice president of China Operations, followed by discussing operational challenges in the year ahead.
Addressing political issues, Kevin Nealer, principal and partner at the Scowcroft Group, and Charles Freeman, Freeman chair in China Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, discussed prospects for bilateral relations and the interplay with domestic politics in the United States and China. US Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke gave the luncheon address on US commercial engagement with China in 2010, announcing that he will lead the Obama administration's first trade mission--to China and India--in 2010. (Jan. 27-28)
Beijing: Luncheon Briefing on US Plans for the Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT)
Featured Assistant US Trade Representative Timothy Stratford and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce Ira Kasoff, who provided an update on plans for the JCCT in 2010 and on their meetings with PRC officials during their January China visit. Co-sponsored by USCBC, the American Chamber of Commerce in China, and the US Information Technology Office. (Jan. 29)
FEBRUARY
Washington: Debriefing on 2010 Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) Preparations
David Loevinger, executive secretary and senior coordinator for China and the S&ED at the US Department of Treasury, debriefed US-China Business Council (USCBC) member companies on the latest preparations for the 2010 S&ED, which will be held in China and led by representatives from the US departments of the State and Treasury. (Feb. 4)
Washington: Roundtable on China and Technical Barriers to Trade
Featured Ed Rice, senior professional staff member at the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Bill Reinsch, president of the National Foreign Trade Council; and Larry Christensen, attorney at Miller Chevalier, LLP. (Feb. 18)
MARCH
Shanghai: Issues Luncheon
State Administration of Taxation 2010 Priorities: Implications for Foreign Companies
Featured Chris Ho, partner in charge, Tax, KPMG Advisory (China) Ltd. (Mar. 3)
Beijing: Issues Luncheon
Featured Ambassador Susan C. Schwab, former US Trade Representative (USTR) and Cabinet official under the George W. Bush administration. (Mar. 19)
Washington: Dinner
USCBC hosted a dinner in honor of H. E. Cui Tiankai, Foreign Affairs Vice Minister of the PRC. (Mar. 22)
Washington: Reception and Breakfast
USCBC and the US Chamber of Commerce (USCC) co-hosted a reception and breakfast in honor of PRC Vice Minister of Commerce Zhong Shan. Approximately 80 guests attended including the PRC Embassy representatives and members of the Vice Minister's delegation including the Director General of the Bureau of Fair Trade Mme. Zhou Xiaoyan and Director General of the Department of American and Oceanian Affairs He Ning. (Mar. 24)
APRIL
Shanghai: Issues Luncheon
Government Affairs Best Practices:
Commercial Implications of the NPC and Linking Company Goals with
Government Priorities
Featured Ken Jarrett, vice chair, Greater China, APCO Worldwide, Inc. and Dan Sun, vice president, Government Relations, Honeywell (China) Co. (Apr. 2)
Washington: Issues Briefing
Cybersecurity in China: How to Protect Your Company
Featured Tom Antisdel, managing director for Stroz Friedberg LLC. (Apr. 7)
MAY
Shanghai: Issues Briefing
Best Practices in Workplace Health & Safety: Responding to Hepatitis B
Featured Dr. Samuel So, director of Stanford University's Asian Liver Center and a leading international expert in the field of liver disease and Dr. Jean Wu, medical director, China; and Steve Maloy, general counsel, Asia Pacific, of GE.
This event was co-hosted by USCBC and the AmCham-Shanghai. Special thanks to GE (China) for underwriting this event. (May 6)
Washington: Briefing with Assistant Minister Zhu Guangyao
Featured USCBC President John Frisbie, Financial Services Forum President Rob Nichols, Assistant Minister Zhu Guangyao and a PRC Ministry of Finance Delegation. (May 6)
Washington: Briefing with David Dollar
Featured USCBC President John Frisbie, Financial Services Forum President Rob Nichols, and David Dollar US Economic and Financial Emissary to China US Department of the Treasury. (May 7)
Beijing: Breakfast Briefing on FCPA Issues with Department of Commerce General Counsel Cameron F. Kerry
USCBC and the American Chamber of Commerce in China co-hosted a breakfast which featured Cameron F. Kerry, general counsel for the US Department of Commerce (DOC), Nathaniel Edmonds, assistant chief, Fraud Section, Criminal Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ), and Troy Beatty, senior counsel, Office of International Affairs, of the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC), Patrick Norton and Susan Munro, partners at Steptoe & Johnson LLP. (May 10)
Beijing: Cybersecurity Briefing
USCBC and the US Information Technology Office (USITO) co-hosted a briefing which featured Stewart Baker, former assistant secretary for Policy at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). (May 12)
Shanghai: Breakfast Program for Transportation Secretary LaHood
Featured US Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. This event was co-hosted by USCBC and AmCham-Shanghai. (May 14)
Washington: Issues Briefing
EU Engagement with China and US-EU Cooperation on China Issues
Featured Hiddo Houben, head of the Trade Section at the European Union Delegation to the United States. (May 20)
Beijing: Lunch Briefing with Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke
USCBC and the AmCham-China co-hosted a luncheon briefing which featured US Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke. (May 21)
Chicago: Luncheon
Nearly Four Decades In China: A CEO's Perspective
This luncheon, co-hosted by USCBC and the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, featured W. James McNerney, Jr., chairman, president and chief executive officer, the Boeing Company. (May 26)
JUNE
Washington: 37th Annual Membership Meeting
USCBC members gathered for the organization's 37th Annual Membership Meeting in Washington, DC. Leading China political analyst Harry Harding kicked off the event with a look at the current state of US-China relations, noting that some recent frictions between the United States and China have passed and the bilateral relationship has stabilized--but that some tensions are inevitable. He predicted that over the next few years, the most likely flashpoints in the relationship would be tensions on the Korean Peninsula, Taiwan's election in 2012, and China's own leadership succession that year.
Pieter Bottelier, a professor at Johns Hopkins University and a former World Bank director in Beijing, presented on China's economy, stressing that China's stimulus package has been effective and that the government has begun to pull back from credit-driven stimulus. He also stated that challenges for policymakers include housing bubbles in some local markets in China, inflation, low export demand, and protectionism abroad and in China.
Julie Walton, USCBC's chief representative in Shanghai, gave a preview of PRC economic development policies in the next five years and commercial implications for US companies (see China's Priorities for the Next Five Years). Walton encouraged companies to examine PRC pronouncements, catalogues, and plans to find opportunities to show that foreign companies can help China achieve its goals.
Monica Debiak, associate at Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP, updated the audience on recent developments surrounding collective bargaining, unionization, and other human resources developments in China. Of particular note, China's unionization drive appears to be picking up again as China's economy pulls out of the recession, and employee claims against companies, especially for overtime, are rising. Debiak predicted that in the near future, labor disputes and pressure to unionize will rise, and multinational corporations will face increased media scrutiny.
Wrapping up the afternoon was a briefing on the results of the previous week's S&ED in Beijing from a panel of US government officials who participated: David Loevinger, executive secretary and senior coordinator for China affairs and the S&ED at the Department of the Treasury; Derek Chollet, principal deputy director of the secretary of State's Policy Planning Staff; and David Shear, deputy assistant secretary for East Asian Affairs at the Department of State. The panelists stressed the S&ED's value in setting the agenda for other bilateral discussions and in engaging with senior PRC officials who do not interact frequently in international settings. Panelists also provided insights into discussions of key topics such as China's innovation and procurement policies, the US and PRC economic recoveries, the European debt crisis, and current tensions with North Korea. (June 1)
Washington: USCBC Board Meeting and Board Reception
US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner met with the USCBC's board of directors during its meeting at the Library of Congress. Geithner spoke on the results of the previous week's S&ED in Beijing and prospects for key economic and commercial issues. Geithner highlighted that China's indigenous innovation and government procurement policies were an important part of the S&ED discussions and that US industry had captured the PRC government's attention on these issues. He also stressed the S&ED's importance in supporting global economic recovery by coordinating macroeconomic policies. In addition, the board of directors met with China's new ambassador to the United States Zhang Yesui, who also spoke on S&ED results and bilateral trade relations.
USCBC's board elected Muhtar Kent, chairman and CEO of the Coca-Cola Co., as chair and elected three officers. USCBC member companies re-elected 10 current directors for three-year terms and welcomed four new board members. For USCBC's complete board list, see www.uschina.org.
USCBC and the Librarian of Congress James H. Billington hosted an evening reception for USCBC's new chair, Muhtar Kent, chairman and CEO, the Coca-Cola Co., and new USCBC officers and directors. Held at the Library of Congress on June 2, numerous US and PRC government officials, former Cabinet officials, USCBC member company executives, and members of the think-tank and China-watching community attended the reception. USCBC President John Frisbie, Kent, and PRC Ambassador to the United States Zhang Yesui offered remarks on US-China trade relations. Special thanks to the Coca-Cola Co. for underwriting this event. (June 2)
Chicago: Luncheon on Current Issues in US-China Trade
Featured Julie Walton, Shanghai Chief Representative, and Erin Ennis, Vice President from USCBC, and Scott Lassar, Partner, Sidley Austin LLP. (June 7)
Minneapolis: Breakfast on Current Issues in US-China Trade
Featured Julie Walton, Shanghai Chief Representative, and Erin Ennis, Vice President from USCBC, and Nelson Dong, Partner, Dorsey & Whitney LLP. (June 9)
Washington: Briefing
Featured Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Asia Pacific Ira Kasoff and Assistant US Trade Representative for China Claire Reade. (June 11)
Washington: Reception and Luncheon Welcoming PRC Ambassador to the United States Zhang Yesui and Mme. Ambassador Chen Naiqing
Featured China's new ambassador to the United States, his wife, and other PRC embassy officials. Zhang offered remarks on ways to continue building strong bilateral commercial relations and on recent developments following the May S&ED. Special thanks to the Coca-Cola Co. for sponsoring the event. (June 17)
Shanghai: Luncheon
Shanghai Economic and Information Technology Commission Discusses New Opportunities in Priority Sectors
Featured officials from the Shanghai Economic and Information Technology Commission (SEITC): Ma Jing, SEITC's chief engineer, Zhao Yan, deputy chief of SEITC's foreign economic division, and Zhang Ying, deputy chief of SEITC's advanced technology division. (June 29)
JULY
Washington: US-China Energy Briefing: S&ED Outcomes
Featured David Goldwyn, Department of State coordinator for International Energy Affairs. (July 8)
Shanghai: Luncheon on Current Developments in Unionization and Collective Bargaining
Featured Jianjun Ma, partner in the Jun He Law Offices in Shanghai, (July 14)
Washington: PRC Minister of Science And Technology Luncheon Discussion
USCBC and several member company senior executives--including two board directors--raised concerns about China's indigenous innovation policies during a small-group roundtable and working lunch hosted for PRC Minister of Science and Technology (MOST) Wan Gang. Wan was in Washington, DC, for US government meetings on innovation and clean energy but requested to meet with USCBC in his only nongovernmental meeting. (July 20)
Shanghai: Reception with New Hunan Governor Xu Shousheng
Co-hosted by USCBC and AmCham-Shanghai, this event featured Xu Shousheng, the new governor of Hunan. Hunan Vice Governor Gan Lin and several heads of provincial commissions such as the Commerce, Development and Reform, and Economic commissions. (July 23)