Los Angeles—During the summit between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping at Mar-a-Largo early this month, the United States was invited to participate in China’s “Belt and Road” initiative. Should the United States do so? Or has the United States already been a part of it for a long time, and we simply don’t call it that way?
These questions were explored at a trade education forum today hosted by KJC International Inc. (DBA: US News Express), in partnership with the Port of Los Angeles Trade Connect Program, at Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce in downtown Los Angeles, which draws an audience of business leaders, government officials and local media.
When speaking of the Silk Road, people usually picture in their mind the trade connection between China and the rest of Eurasian. As a matter of fact, a maritime silk road has existed across the Pacific, which can be traced back several centuries, according to Mr. Jim MacLellan, Director of Trade Development, Port of Los Angeles, who is an expert dedicated to the research of this trading route.
Mr. MacLellan presented an insightful perspective of the historic trade connection between China and the west coast of North America, California in particular. Exports from China via the Philippines can be dated back to the Spanish colonial period. Luxury goods, spices, porcelain, fine clothes, silk cloth, tea and other merchandises were brought to the American continent through this maritime route.
Mr. Liu Haiyan, Consul of the Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles, introduced the “Belt and Road” initiative, and Chinese government’s commitment to it, including Silk Road Fund, which has a total capital of $40 billion, and AIIB (Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank), which has more than 70 members.
The Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road (or the Belt and Road) initiative is China’s development strategy and framework first unveiled in 2013 by Chinese President Xi. “The Belt and Road Initiative is a systematic project, which should be jointly built through consultation to meet the interests of all, and efforts should be made to integrate the development strategies of the countries along the Belt and Road”, according to the Chinese government.
Among the guests and speakers are Ms. Stella Poon, Hongkong Trade Development Council, Professor Brian Peck, Transnational Law and Business Center, USC Gould School of Law, Mr. Carlos J. Valderrama, President, Center for Global Trade & Foreign Investment, Mr. Allen Wu, Chairman, Walnut Valley Water District Board, Mr. Wu Zhongguo, Field Representative of Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Ms. Brooke Lyons, Travel Trade Manager of Beverly Hills Conference & Visitors Bureau, Mr. Jeffrey Cheung and Mrs. Katherine Whitman Los Angeles Guangzhou Sister City Association, Mr. Peter Gao, President, California Chinese Athlete Association, Mr. John Lee, First Vice President of East West Bank, and Ms. Jasmine Miao, Representative of China Southern Airlines in Los Angeles.
