WSCRC

Washington State China Relations Council

WSCRC AND WA STATE DELEGATION MAKE IMPACT AT CHINA INTERNATIONAL IMPORT EXPO 2018

From November 4 – 11, 2018 WSCRC and approximately 30 government and business representatives from Washington State attended the inaugural China International Import Expo in Shanghai. With more than 100 countries at the Expo, WSCRC in collaboration with the Washington State Commerce Department, Greater Seattle Partners and the following counties: Pierce, Skagit, Snohomish, and Thurston meet with Chinese government and business leaderships. Chris Green, Assistant Director Office of Economic Development and Competitiveness, Washington State Commerce Department; Mercy Kuo, WSCRC President; Kendee Yamaguchi, Snohomish County Executive Director; Patrick Pierce, CEO, and Andrew Vuong, Director of Strategy and Industry Diversification, of Economic Alliance of Snohomish County; A Boungjaktha, Vice President of Global Engagement at Greater Seattle Partners, and Michelle Zou of Pacific Technologies Consulting Group attended the invitation-only International Aviation Supply Chain Forum, where Chris Green and Patrick Pierce were featured speakers.

Snohomish County’s Paine Field and Shanghai Airport Authority signed a memorandum of cooperation on November 7, 2018 in Shanghai.

WSCRC together with the delegation met with 17 Chinese companies and seven government entities. Snohomish County in collaboration with WSCRC met with counterparts in Shanghai, Ningbo, Hangzhou, Beijing, and Tianjin.

US-China Women’s Leadership Forum: Executive Leadership – Cultivating a Community of Leaders

On November 14, 2018 WSCRC organized an executive leadership session as part of the US-China Women’s Leadership Forum. The session focused on “cultivating a community of leaders” led by Sue Bennett, Executive Director of Leadership Tomorrow (LT), an organization whose purpose is to cultivate, inspire, connect and engage an effective community of leaders. Sue has worked in the public, private and nonprofit sectors, and is serving or has served on the boards of the Washington Women’s Foundation, Child Care Resources, Planned Parenthood, Cancer Lifeline and the Reed Coleman Family Foundation.

Sue spoke about the importance of “servant leadership” in cultivating collaborative, empathetic and community-based leadership approaches. WSCRC Board Directors Holly Yang and Annamarie Larson, respectively chair and vice-chair of the US-China Women’s Leadership Forum helped lead the discussion.

WSCRC expresses appreciation to Sue Bennett of Leadership Tomorrow for sharing valuable insights with WSCRC members.

WSCRC HOSTS CHINESE MEDIA DELEGATION SEATTLE VISIT

On November 20, 2018 WSCRC in collaboration with the East West Center in Honolulu hosted a delegation of journalists from leading Chinese media outlets: FactWire News Agency, Hong Kong; Caijing Magazine, Beijing; Red Star News of Chengdu Economic Daily; Chongqing Daily, Chongqing; South China Morning Post, Hong Kong; Global Times (Chinese Edition), Beijing; Tencent Finance, Shanghai; and Beijing Youth Daily, Beijing. Mr. Susan Kreifel of the East West Center was the delegation coordinator.

WSCRC organized a full-day program for the delegation that began with a roundtable for the delegation to discuss trade and technology relations between WA State and China with the following experts: Allison Clark, Managing Director, Office of Economic Development and Competitiveness, Washington State Department of Commerce; Carlton Vann, International Business Development Director, Office of Economic Development, City of Seattle; Tom Ranken, CEO and President of CleanTech Alliance; Sean Connell, Director of Business Development and Global Competitiveness, Economic Development Alliance of Skagit County; Patrick Pierce, CEO of Economic Alliance of Snohomish County.

 

The afternoon sessions focused on China-Pacific Northwest real estate trends with Brook Burton, Chief Operating Officer and Michael Gardiner, Chief Economist, of Windermere Real Estate and Brian Hatcher, Executive Vice President, Brokerage and Holly Yang, Senior Vice President and Partner of Kidder Mathews. The delegation learned about the producers of Almond Roca, Brown & Haley, a leading mid-size company with growing market presence in China from John Melin, Chief Operating Office and President and Karina Kellogg, Regional Manager – Greater China of Brown & Haley.

Thank you to WSCRC member companies – Windermere, Kidder Mathews, and Brown & Haley – for hosting the Chinese media delegation.

The Future of the Global Trading System: Conversation with Ambassador Rufus Yerxa

On September 19, 2018, WSCRC welcomed Ambassador Rufus Yerxa as presenter at the Policy Briefing Series. Currently the President of the National Foreign Trade Council, Ambassador Yerxa has more than three decades of experience as a lawyer, diplomat, trade negotiator, and international officials. He oversaw policymaking in Congress, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), and the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Ambassador Yerxa emphasized the importance of maintaining involvement in the multilateral trading system, despite recent tariffs leveraged between the US and China. He detailed how trade was critical to America’s economic vitality, as it fuels economic growth, supports employment, and facilitates the import of affordable goods and services. Speaking specifically about trade with China, Ambassador Yerxa noted that economic ties with China overall were important to preserve, even if there have been past disagreements over currency manipulation and economic nationalism.

Speaking about the WTO, he noted that the organization was necessary because it underpins global trade between many of the world’s nations. Considering the trade conflict between the US and China, the rules of the WTO may face renegotiation. However, Ambassador Yerxa commented that that the WTO’s success in boosting trade among its members and reducing export volatility should remain hallmarks of the global trading system in the future. Citing historical examples of South Korea and Mexico in the late twentieth century, he illustrated how previous protectionist policies did not remain permanent fixtures of a nation’s economy.

Special thanks to WSCRC Board Member Annamarie Larson and K&L Gates for hosting and providing light refreshments. WSCRC was pleased to welcome audience members from K&L Gates’ Portland office via telecast for this session of the Policy Briefing Series.

Summary Author: Mengyao Liu

Founders Forum: Conversation with Hui Tian

On October 31, 2018, the Washington State China Relations Council held the second session of its new Founders Forum series, featuring Hui Tian, Founder of Studio19 Architects. The WSCRC Founders Forum highlights leaders in US-China innovation in technology, entrepreneurship, and business. Participants contribute to a targeted, meaningful dialogue with a Founder/CEO working on the front lines of US-China relations. Discussions feature the trials and tribulations of starting a company, operating across cultures, and growing an international business.

Studio19 is a full-service architecture and interior design firm specializing in a wide variety of project types including mixed-use, multi-family residential, hotels/hospitality, offices, retail, and high-end custom homes. After almost 10 years of operations, Studio19 Architects encompasses a strong team of architects and designers. It has completed several extensive projects throughout the Greater Seattle area, as well as in other cities. Since founding the company almost ten years ago, Hui Tian has seen the firm take on increasingly extensive projects in the Greater Seattle Area and around the world. Speaking about shifting from an emerging architect contributing to projects at large firms to founding her own firm, Hui emphasized the importance of feeling ownership over her work.

On the topic of US-China trade relations, Hui detailed that she will continue working along international lines in upcoming projects. Given her background as a minority woman business owner in Washington state, she eloquently described the inspiration behind the founding her firm. She cited client approval and referrals as key to the growing success of Studio19 Architects. She also expressed pride in the fact that several employees at Studio19 will be celebrating their five and ten-year anniversaries with the firm.  The lively Q&A session addressed Studio19’s various projects, as well as the experiences of the firm working with American and Chinese partners.

WSCRC extends special thanks Hui Tian of Studio19 Architects for furnishing refreshments.

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