Season’s Greetings and Warm Wishes from
the Washington State China Relations Council & the Washington State China Relations Fund
&
2021 Year in Review
It’s that time of year when we want to thank you for your support, to wish you and your family a happy, safe, and peaceful holiday season and all the best for 2022.
We’d also like to present you this year in review which summarizes many of our 2021 activities. We are grateful to all of you who joined with us this year in our webinars and various events and we look forward to your continued support in 2022.
PROGRAMS AND EVENTS
On February 2, the Council held its annual gala, virtually, for over 200 participants. The highlight of the evening was a conversation between former Ambassador to China Gary Locke and the former Prime Minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd. These two experts expressed their ideas about how the U.S. and China can cooperate as well as compete in the future. Also speaking at the event was Congressman Rick Larsen (D WA 02), who shared his ideas about steps the U.S. must take to compete and what the U.S. must do to manage its increasingly fraught relationship with China.
Keeping with a Gala tradition, the Council awarded its 2021 Sidney Rittenberg Award for leadership in the advancement of Washington-China relations to former Council Chairman and long-time board member Gregg Rodgers.
Cruising the South China Sea – Asymmetric Competition: A Strategy for
Stormy Weather Ahead? China & Technology: A Conversation with Gary Rieschel
Watch the webinar recording here Read the full report here
The Importance of International Students Analyzing Chinese Investment in
in Post-Secondary Education System the Real Estate Sector
Watch the webinar recording here Watch the webinar recording here
Current Challenges and Opportunities for Coffee Chat with the Economic Alliance Snohomish County:
U.S. Companies in China: A Report by the Rebuilding Relationships with China
Leaders of the AmCham Shanghai Watch the webinar recording here.
Book Talk Book Talk “Challenging China” Dragon Boat Festival Networking Event
“Rumors from Shanghai” Watch the webinar recording here
A conversation with Representative Analyzing China’s Strategic Ambitions
Rick Larsen on U.S.-China Relations Watch the webinar recording here
Watch the webinar recording here
Anti-Asian Violence and Hate Crimes Series
Watch the first webinar (community voices) recording
Watch the second webinar (government perspectives) recording here
Deciphering Xi Jinping’s Vision and Book Talk “The World Turned Upside Down”
What It Means for the Tech Sector
Watch the webinar recording here
U.S.-China Relations: Trends and A conversation with Congresswoman Suzan
Implications for U.S. Business DelBene on U.S.-China Relations
The Impact of the Evergrande Crisis China Town Hall 2021
on China’s Economy Watch the webinar recording here
Book Talk | Middle Class Shanghai: Unpacking Global Supply Chain Disruptions
Reshaping U.S.-China Engagement Watch the webinar recording here
Watch the webinar recording here
The New China Business Landscape for American Companies
This virtual conference was co-hosted by the WSCRC and AmCham Shanghai. Ambassador Stapleton Roy provided a very insightful keynote speech. He stated that even though there are many “dark clouds” on the horizon for U.S.-China relations, the notion of a “new cold war” is misleading and inappropriate. He listed three key factors hampering the U.S’s China policy, including no defined U.S. economic strategy for Asia, Taiwan, and a hostility in the U.S. against globalization.
Representative Rick Larsen (D WA 02) made recorded remarks, stating the importance of a healthy relationship for Washington State and the U.S. with China, and what the Congress should do to improve the relationship.
Three panels comprised of leaders of the U.S. business community in China and leading China experts discussed three key issues of the U.S.-China relationship, including the current state and the future of U.S.-China relations, the business environment for U.S. companies in China, and what are the implications of a “de-coupled” tech landscape.
WSCRC Government Affairs Committee Projects
WSCRC and Select Washington Trade Associations Outline Ideas for China Policies
The Washington State China Relations Council and its partners recently prepared a document for federal, state and local officials, outlining policies that these organizations endorse with the intent to improve the competitiveness of Washington businesses in their dealings with China. The WSCRC would like to thank our partner organizations, CleanTech Alliance, the Northwest Horticultural Council, Visit Seattle, and the Washington Technology Industry Association, for providing their valuable inputs. Full report can be viewed here.
WSCRC Produces its First China Quarterly Report
The intent of this communique is to provide timely and important information about U.S.-China relations, key developments of interest and relevance in China, and an update on the progress of local entities in their interactions with China. The Council – drawing upon its 42-year history, knowledge, and resources – is well positioned to track, analyze, and report on the Pacific Northwest’s important economic, cultural, and educational relationship with China. We hope this report, coupled with other works of the Council, provide key resources for industry leaders, government officials and their staff. Read the full report here.
WSCRC in the Media & Member Highlights
On April 16, the WSCRC published an Op-ed in the Seattle Times to recommend five core themes in terms of engaging and competing with China to boost Washington’s economic recovery.
On January 15, the WSCRC member Spencer Cohen co-penned an editorial in the South China Morning Post. Titled New alliances, not tariffs, are key to US trade strategy on China, the op-ed calls for the U.S. to take a multi-lateral approach to solving trade problems with China.
The U.S. China Business Council (USCBC), in coordination with the WSCRC, has interviewed a number of WSCRC member companies to understand the importance of the China market to these firms, as part of its “50 States, 50 Stories” initiative. Four WSCRC members were interviewed and featured in the series.
- Brown and Haley – “In Pursuit of a Billion Sweet Tooths“. Tacoma-based Brown and Haley is the legendary candy maker who created “Almond Roca”. In the article, the company’s CEO John Melin explains how they developed their business in China, how the company has adapted its product line to meet the needs of Chinese consumers. and how they have responded to impacts from the trade war and the pandemic.
- Greater Pacific Industries – “Serial Entrepreneur Says Nobody Wins a Trade War“. In the interview, Ben Zhang, Founder and CEO of the company shared his success stories and the challenges they are facing due to the decline of U.S.-China relationship.
- GX Architecture & Design – “Adding an American Touch to China’s Tech Headquarters“. Bob Ormond, Senior Vice President and COO of the company advised the readers to take the long(er) view when working with the Chinese based on his and his company’s experience working throughout Asia. Mr. Ormond also praised the role of state level U.S.-China trade groups like the WSCRC which helps companies like his with business transactions and policy and strategy advice.
- Two Rivers Manufacturing – “Washington Entrepreneur Returns to China to Craft Motorcycle Helmets“. Jeanne DeMund, co-owner of this motorcycle accessories manufacturing and distribution company, shared her 25-year run of success and creation of hundreds of jobs in the U.S. and China. She emphasized the importance of people-to-people ties between both countries during this turbulent time of U.S.-China relations.