April 16, 2004
INFORMATION: John McElwain or John Green, (661) 362-3494 or 3684
Consul General, Pacific Rim Chamber Exec to Speak at China Conference
Government and business leaders who have been confirmed as speakers for an upcoming conference on doing business with China include Chinese Consul General Zhong Jianhua and Pacific Rim Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Holmes Stoner Jr.
“Exploring Business with China: Opportunities & Challenges” will be held at the Hyatt Valencia’s Santa Clarita Conference Center on Wednesday, April 21. The all-day conference will bring together industry and trade officials from the U.S. and China, who will brief participants on the many aspects of trade between the two countries.
Zhong has many years of experience in foreign affairs. He has worked for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs off and on since 1977. He has served as director general of the Department of Consular Affairs in Los Angeles since 1999.
He is keenly knowledgeable of the West, having served as first secretary of the Sino-British Joint Liaison Group and second secretary in the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. He also studied law and diplomacy at The Fletcher School at Tufts University in Massachusetts in 1984 and ’85.
In addition to his duties with the Pacific Rim chamber, Stoner is vice president of URI International in Beverly Hills. He oversees international business development in major emerging markets and personally manages the China National Tourism account. He assists in all other international operations specializing in China and most of Asia.
Stoner will provide an overview of China’s industrial and manufacturing regions, as well as valuable insight on where and how to explore business opportunities.
Understanding the economic landscape of China is essential to establishing successful business relationships there, Stoner said, because the country is divided into disparate geographic regions that have unique areas of specialization.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, who has represented the Fifth District since 1980, is honorary conference chairman. In addition to his service to the county and as a member of the California Assembly, Antonovich was a presidential appointee in the U.S. Delegation to the United Nations International Conference on Indo-Chinese Refugees in Geneva in 1989.
Other speakers scheduled to speak include Zhiming Xu, director and chief representative of the Shanghai Foreign Investment Development Board; Lounei Shu, commercial and economic attache for the Department of Consular Affairs in Los Angeles; Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook, superintendent-president of the Santa Clarita Community College District/College of the Canyons; Vance Baugham, regional manager of the Los Angeles Economic Development Corp.; Rob Guthrie, business development officer of US Export Import Bank; Julianne Hennessey, director of the U.S. Export Assistance Center, U.S. Department of Commerce; John Hoskinson, president of Gruber Systems; Dr. Archie Kleingartner, director of the Global Windows Project, UCLA Anderson School of Management; Tim Norris, a partner in Pan Pacific Sourcing; Martin Selander, international trade specialist from the U.S. Small Business Administration, and Greg Whitney, vice president of business development for the Los Angeles Economic Development Corp.
Some of the many topics to be covered include securing suppliers of materials and components; the advantages and risks in setting up operations; the market for U.S. goods, tools and machinery, and how to export finished products.
As a bonus, participants may attend a reception following the event and speak directly with Chinese business leaders involved with trade and investments.
With the highest foreign direct investment in the world, the People’s Republic of China is fast becoming a focal point for businesses and industries seeking to expand their markets and bolster their bottom lines. The country’s GDP (gross domestic product) was estimated to be close to $6 trillion in 2002.
Tickets are still available. Reservations may be made by calling (661) 259-3874. More information is available on-line at http://www.chinabusinessconference.com. The conference is sponsored by the college’s Center for Applied Competitive Technologies in conjunction with the Economic Development Division, with major funding from Vital Express of Valencia.
| 
