USCBC Holds China Operations Conference in Beijing

USCBC held its Beijing China Operations 2007 conference on May 24. Yang Chaofei, director general of the PRC State Environmental Protection Administration's Department of Policy and Law, opened the conference with a discussion on China's environmental protection policies in 2007. Stephen Green, senior economist at Standard Chartered Bank (China) Ltd., followed with an update on China's economy. Robert Poole, USCBC's vice president, China Operations, and Godfrey Firth, USCBC's chief representative in Shanghai, discussed bilateral trade relations and rising protectionism in China, respectively. In a panel on mergers and acquisitions (M&A), Tom Jones, partner at Allen & Overy LLP; Lawrence Chia, managing partner, Corporate Finance-M&A, Deloitte; and Danny Davis, managing director, China Business Ventures, Caterpillar, Inc., discussed new M&A regulatory and legal challenges and pricing issues. Daphne Wu, general manager of Caijing magazine, provided the luncheon address: "The Rising Tide: China's Changing Media Environment."

In the afternoon, Andrew Browne, partner at Brunswick Group LLP, discussed managing relations with the Chinese media. In a panel on environmental issues, Charles McElwee, of counsel, Squire Sanders & Dempsey LLP; Scott Zhao, environment, health, and safety (EHS) manager, Intel Corp.; and Xie Dong, EHS counsel, General Electric Co., discussed environmental law and litigation in China, China's restriction on hazardous substances, and bringing global EHS standards to China, respectively. Murray Covello, president-Asia, Praxair, Inc., spoke on the impact of rising costs on strategic planning, and David Michael, managing partner of the Boston Consulting Group's Beijing office, spoke on expanding distribution networks in China. The conference concluded with a panel on human resources issues. Chris Watkins, managing partner, MRI Worldwide China Group, discussed attracting senior management talent. Anne Marie Moncure, president, United Family Hospitals and Clinics, Chindex International, Inc., covered health and medical challenges.

Photos: Vincent Ng

USCBC Co-Hosts Dinner in Honor of PRC Vice Premier Wu Yi

USCBC and other organizations co-hosted a reception and dinner in honor of PRC Vice Premier Wu Yi and her delegation to the Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED) in Washington, DC, on May 24. Wu was accompanied by 14 State Council ministers, 11 vice ministers, PRC Ambassador to the United States Zhou Wenzhong, ranking PRC Embassy officials, and SED delegation members. US cabinet officials, members of Congress, and other senior US government officials—including Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, Labor Secretary Elaine Chao, Secretary of Health and Human Services Michael Leavitt, Federal Reserve Board Chair Ben Bernanke, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Stephen L. Johnson, and US Ambassador to China Clark T. Randt, Jr.—attended the reception and dinner. In her remarks, Wu provided the PRC view of the recent SED meetings and of the US-China trade relationship. More than 600 guests attended the event.

USCBC President John Frisbie welcomes PRC Vice Premier Wu Yi to the USCBC co-hosted reception and dinner in her honor.	Amb. Carla Hills, USCBC board vice chair and chairman and CEO of Hills & Co.; Martin Cargas, vice president, Government Affairs, Anheuser-Busch Cos., Inc.; and Amb. Wendy R. Sherman, principal, the Albright Group, welcome Wu.	PRC Ambassador to the United States Zhou Wenzhong introduces Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL) to Wu.
About 600 guests attended the dinner in honor of Wu.	US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson gave opening remarks at the dinner.	USCBC Chair and Chairman, President, and CEO of the Boeing Co. W. James McNerney, Jr. and Wu
Photos by sardari.com

Copyright 2007 US-China Business Council