The CCG’s ‘track-II’ diplomacy’ in America (II) – CCG organized a roundtable discussion with the business community of New York and Committee of 100

To facilitate the cultural exchange between China and America and develop ‘track-II’ diplomacy, China’s leading independent think tank, Center for China and Globalization (CCG) launched a trek to America between September 29, 2017 and October 4, 2017.

On Sep 29, CCG organized a lunch meeting with regards ‘China-U.S. Relations: the Future of Win-win Cooperation’ in Manhattan, New York. Officials from Consulate-General of China, representatives of Chinese companies and relevant scholars were invited to the meeting and they shared their opinions on the investment of China and America, the two countries’ economic and trade relation and the Chinese companies’ development in America. Dr. Wang Huiyao, the President of CCG addressed a speech about the opportunities for the bilateral investment of China and America and about the two countries’ cooperation on infrastructure construction. The speech also covered areas such as investment migration, overseas study, and tourism. Additionally, Dr. Wang showed concern for the chances and challenges the two countries face in investment.

The lunch meeting was presided by Teng Shaojun, the Executive Director of The U.S. – China Association for public affairs, and Li Xuehai, the Co-chair of Committee of 100, the Greater China. Guests that attended the meeting included Zhou Shanqing, the Counselor of Consulate-General of China in New York, Steve Orlins, the President of National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, Xiao Yuqiang, the Vice Chairman of China General Chamber of Commerce – U.S.A and Chairman of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China in North America, Wu Zhigang, the Vice President of China Construction America, Wang Shuguang, the General manager of China Grand Enterprises, and Yu Jihong, the Vice General Manager of CITIC Group.

As Dr. Wang mentioned in his speech, China’s foreign investment in 2016 was mainly concentrated in Europe, North America, and the Asia-Pacific area, with a percentage of 35%, 29% and 25% of the total investment respectively. In 2016, the Chinese companies’ investment in America increased by 21% and total foreign investment rose by 76%. The scale of investment nearly doubled. In 2016, the direct investment between China and America reached over 60 billion USD. In order to resolve trade disputes between the two nations, according to Dr. Wang, the two countries should arrive at a common understanding of the issue by communication and take corresponding measures to tackle it. Only through joint efforts can the two countries’ trade be balanced and the both economies be benefited. In the meanwhile, as Chinese students have constituted the majority of international students in America, the two countries should adopt policies conducive to the flow of talents.

The representatives at the meeting also shared their experience of investment in America and explored the issues that companies might encounter when investing in America, such as the investigation of CFUIS and the Section 301 Investigation. Additionally, many representatives expressed deep interests in the infrastructure construction in America.

Prior to the President Trump’s visit to China and after the first- round cultural and social communication between China and America led by Liu Yandong, the Vice Premier of State Council, the cultural exchange between the two countries was the main force driving the long-term development of the two countries’ relations. Through this visit, CCG aims to deepen the mutual trust and understanding between the two countries and help think tanks play a bigger role in influencing government policies and the development of companies.

CCG’s visit to America began on Sep 29. The visit will last 6 days. In the next few days, the team will head to Washington D.C. and organize an investment forum at Capitol Hill. After that, the team will visit Department of Commerce of the U.S. and organize several symposiums with many world-class think tanks in America, including The Heritage Foundation and Migration Policy Institute.

As a leading independent think tank from China, CCG’s visit has facilitated and materialized the cultural exchange and cooperation between China and America. The CCG team include the participants as follows: Wang Huiyao, the President of CCG, Miao Lu, the Secretary-General of CCG, Li Weifeng, the Executive Secretary-General of CCG, Tang Beijie, the Deputy Secretary-General, Xiao Huilin, the Senior Researcher of CCG, and Wang Zhi, the Non-Resident Senior Fellow of CCG, Li Yeqing, the Non-Resident Senior Fellow and etc.