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On September 19th, 2018, China General Chamber of Commerce – Chicago (CGCC Chicago), in partnership with the World Business Chicago, hosted the CGCC Chicago 2018 Annual Gala “Connection” in the city of Chicago, with the aim to promote the business and trade developments and cultural communications between United States and China. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the United States of America Cui Tiankai, and Ambassador of the United States to the People’s Republic of China Terry Branstad sent their congratulation letters to the annual gala. Held at Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park, this whole-day event consisted of 10 sessions – Registration and Grand Opening Ceremony, “Invest in the Midwest” Business Forum, the release of <2018 Business Survey Report: Chinese Enterprises in the United States> by CGCC, Investment Environment of the Midwest and Business Showcase, Speech of “China’s Reform and Opening-up: Achievements and Implications” by Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Media Interviews of the Invited Experts from Chinese Academy of Social and Sciences, Governors, Congressmen, Senators and Chinese CEOs Sofa Forum, Gala Cocktail Reception, Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony.
The President of the Chinese Academy of Social and Sciences Mr. Xie Fuzhan, Governor of Kansas Jeff Colyer, former United States Treasury Secretary and Chairman of Paulson Institute Henry Paulson, former Mayor of Chicago Richard M. Daley, CEO of World Business Chicago Andrea Zopp, President of Wanxiang Group Ni Pin attended and delivered remarks at the event. Commercial and business affairs officials from the Chinese Embassy in the U. S., business officials from U. S. federal government, Midwest state governments and the city government of Chicago, as well as 30 mayors from different cities of Guangdong Province of China, 40 representatives from 8 cities of China and a delegation of more than 300 Chinese business leaders participated this annual gala.
The opening ceremony of the gala began with the opening remarks from the Chairman of CGCC Chicago and Managing Director of Hainan Airlines North America Pubin Liang, and the Director of Global Strategic Initiatives of World Business of Chicago Andrew Spinelli. The representatives from World Business Chicago, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Grant Thornton, CGCC gave keynote presentations respectively on topics of “Chicago Gateway Agreement with 8 Cities in China”, “Foreign Direct Investment Data”, “ Proven Strategies for Merge & Acquisition Life Cycle Approach – Culture, Human Resources and Information Technology” and “ Chinese Enterprises in the U.S : The Path Forward” at the Business Forum of “Investment in the Midwest”.
At the Forum, CGCC-USA team member William Cao shared highlights of the CGCC community and key findings of its 2018 Annual Business Survey Report. In the following discussion, CGCC- Headquarter team delivered the “Chinese Investment in the US: The Path Forward” forum. The event brought business representatives and scholars together, also invited Michael McDonough, Chief Economist and Financial Products of Bloomberg LP, Dave Rank, Senior Advisor of The Cohen Group and Former Deputy Chief of Mission of the US Embassy to China, Jim Reynolds, Founder and Chairman & CEO of Loop Capital spoke at the forum, joined by Liu Jiang, Partner of Morrison & Foerster LLP, Luis Fiallo, Managing Director of Business Development, China Telecom Americas. They shared from business angel and policy perspective on CFIUS, tariff barriers, trade war, globalization and commercial culture.
After the Business Forum, the President of Chinese Academy of Social and Sciences Xie Fuzhan delivered a keynote speech titled “China’s Reform and Opening-up: Achievements and Implications”. The Sofa Forum was subsequently hosted by the President of Wanxiang Group Ni Pin, and participated by the Governors, Senators, Congressmen, and the business leaders. Governor of Kansas Jeff Colyer initiated the discussion on the topic of “The Future of China – U. S. Relations in Light of Domestic Developments”.
It was particularly noteworthy that, as one the two special features of this year’s Annual Gala, CGCC Chicago was honored to invite the experts of the think tank from Chinese Academy of Social and Sciences to hold the press conference with the American and Chinese media, discussing the strategic corporation and cultural communication between U.S and China. Meanwhile, the CGCC Chicago also invited start-up companies that were mainly founded by Chinese people in the U. S. to set up their booths at the event and offered those companies the great opportunities to communicate with political and business leaders from the U. S. and China, as well as the chance to gain more and more public recognition.
The gala dinner was hosted by the anchor of ABC 7 Judy Hsu, Chairman of CGCC Chicago
Three Chinese and U.S. companies, CRRC Sifang America, Inc., CW Bearing USA, Inc. and Bank of China, were awarded at the gala for the recognition of their excellent performances in business developments and corporate social responsibilities.
At the end of this year’s Gala Dinner, the CEO of Greater Chicago Food Depository Kate Maehr announced the launch of 2018 – 2019 CGCC Chicago Social Responsibility Review and Prospect Volunteering Program.
CGCC presents special thanks to all the guests and members for their support of this event.
Media Coverage: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201809/21/WS5ba4fe50a310c4cc775e79e9.html
Founded in 2005, the China General Chamber of Commerce-USA (“CGCC”) has been recognized as the largest and most influential non-profit organization representing Chinese enterprises in the US. Its membership consists of 1,500 Chinese and US companies, 54 of which are ranked on the 2018 Fortune Global 500. CGCC's mission is to create value, generate economic growth and enhance cooperation between US and Chinese business communities. As of 2018, CGCC Chinese member companies have cumulatively invested over $120 billion and directly employ more than 200,000 and indirectly employ over 1,000,000 people throughout the United States.
CGCC is a nationwide organization and includes CGCC-New York (CGCCUSA-HQ), CGCC-Chicago, CGCC-Houston, CGCC-Los Angeles, CGCC-San Francisco and CGCC-Washington D.C.
China General Chamber of Commerce – Chicago (CGCC-Chicago) is a nonprofit organization representing Chinese enterprises in the United States. CGCC Chicago covers nine states in the Midwest - Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin. During the period of 2000 to 2017, Chinese companies have invested over $20.3 billion with over 45,000 local jobs in the above nine states.