CPPCC Vice Chair Yang and US Ambassador Branstad Headline AmCham China Appreciation Dinner
Beijing, Nov. 30, 2018 – The American Chamber of Commerce in China held its 19th Annual Appreciation Dinner on November 29 to celebrate the tremendous efforts that have been made by both the US and Chinese governments, as well as the American business community, towards bridge building between the two sides. More than 550 guests from the US Embassy, Chinese government ministries and organizations, and the AmCham China membership attended the event, whose theme was “Mutual Trust, Shared Prosperity”.
Following what has been a challenging year for both the countries in the light of the US-China economic relationship, the event focused on cooperation and collaboration as the two sides look towards a brighter future in 2019. Vice Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Yang Chuantang and US Ambassador to China Terry Branstad attended the dinner and delivered keynote speeches.
Vice Chairman Yang remarked that the economic collaboration between the US and China has been comprehensive and complementary. “Cooperation is the only way forward for both sides. We have to recognize that the essence of US-China economic relations is mutual benefit.” He acknowledged the continual contribution that AmCham China and its broad membership has made towards bilateral ties, and said he was anticipating the Chamber working towards new milestones in the healthy and steady advancement of the relationship. Meanwhile, Ambassador Branstad then made a speech, offering his thoughts on the current state of the US-China economic relationship.
Earlier, AmCham China Chairman William Zarit extended his warm welcome to the officials from both governments and to AmCham China members for the Appreciation Dinner. He shared his hopes for a healthier and more sustainable US-China trade relationship.
“We are all living at an important historical moment; an historical moment in which decisions by leaders of the world’s two largest economies will determine the trajectory of the 21st century. This historical moment is a perfect opportunity to start facing the hard issues, to start reconciling the two (economic) systems,” said Zarit. “In the name of Deng Xiaoping’s courageous initiative in 1978: sweeping comprehensive market openings … could help dislodge the logjam, change the momentum, and be the beginning of the dawn of a new and healthy US-China economic relationship.”
Zarit also announced that in the coming year – which will mark AmCham China’s 100th year of heritage – the Chamber will partner with the US Embassy and Chinese think tanks and organizations to facilitate people-to-people exchanges, programs, and dialogues, in order to further enhance the US-China business environment.
AmCham China would like to thank the sponsors of the event for their generous support: Honeywell, Amway, Intel, ExxonMobil, BabyCare, Dow Chemicals, Universal Parks and Resorts, Merck, Nu Skin, Herbalife, Johnson & Johnson, APCO, UTC, ConocoPhillips, FedEx, Arrail Group, Coca-Cola, JLL, CitiBank, Boeing, Saint Lucia Consulting, GM, Microsoft, U.S. Soybean Export Council, MeadJohnson, PMI, and Thermo Fisher Scientific.
About AmCham China
The American Chamber of Commerce in the People's Republic of China is a non-profit, non-governmental organization whose membership comprises more than 3,300 individuals from 900 companies operating across China. The chamber's nationwide mission is to help American companies succeed in China through advocacy, information, networking and business support services. AmCham China is the only officially recognized chamber of commerce representing American business in mainland China. With offices in Beijing, Tianjin, Dalian, Shenyang and Wuhan, AmCham China has more than 50 working groups, and holds more than 250 events each year. Visit our website for more information.
For more information, please contact:
Yona Yang
Tel: (8610) 8519-0831
Email: yyang@amchamchina.org