LOS ANGELES, March 28, 2012
Asian Economic Outlook Series, China’s Economy:  Macro Trends and Business Strategies

The Asia Society Southern California Center kicked off its Asian Economic Outlook Series with an afternoon conference on China’s Economy: Macro Trends & Business Strategies. The 3-5 p.m., workshop at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel featured two panels focusing on China’s economy.

The first panel, The Big Picture:  Growth and Trade, provided a Macro overview of what is going on in China and featured a panel discussion of the key issues facing China.  This panel was moderated by Thomas McLain, a Trustee of the Asia Society, the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Southern California Center, and a partner with the law firm Arnold & Porter.  Panelists included Sidney Rittenberg, President of Rittenberg and Associates, who has had personal relationships with every Chinese leader including and since Mao.  Mr. Rittenberg has been described as the most influential foreigner in China since Marco Polo.  The panel also included, from Hong Kong Ronnie Chan, Chairman of the Hang Lung Group and Asia Society Co-Chair; former Secretary of Commerce & U.S. Trade Representative Mickey Kantor; and Harvard Senior Research Fellow William Overholt. 

The second panel provided a more micro view and talked about the “on-the-ground” trends taking place in China, lessons learned from their experiences and the implications for business.  This panel was moderated by Richard Drobnick, a member of the Executive Committee of the Asia Society Southern California Center and founding director of the USC Marshall School of Business’ Center for International Business Education and Research.  Panelist included Alex Xu, Founder, Chairman and CEO of GreenTree Inns Hotel Group in Shanghai and Los Angeles; from Beijing, APCO Worldwide Sr. Counselor James McGregor; and William Zarit, Minister Counselor for Commercial Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in China.

LIST OF SPEAKERS

THE BIG PICTURE: GROWTH AND TRADE
	Ronnie C. Chan Chairman, Hang Lung Properties Limited Co-Chair, Asia Society Trustees, USC
	Mickey Kantor Partner, Mayer Brown Former Secretary of Commerce & U.S. Trade Representative
	William Overholt Sr. Research Fellow, Kennedy School, Harvard University Cambridge, MA
	Sidney Rittenberg President Rittenberg and Associates Seattle and Beijing
	Moderated by Thomas E. McLain Chair, Asia Society Southern California Trustee, Asia Society Partner, Arnold & Porter LLP

IMPLICATIONS FOR BUSINESS
	QiWei Chen Chairman, ABC Holdings and Chairman and Managing Partner, ABC Capital Shanghai, China
	James McGregor Senior Counselor, APCO Worldwide Beijing
	Alex Xu Founder, Chairman and CEO, GreenTree Inns Hotel Group Shanghai
	William Zarit Minister Counselor for Commercial Affairs, American Embassy Beijing
	Moderated by Richard Drobnick Director, Center for International Business Education and Research, USC Marshall School of Business Los Angeles