On August 21, 2007 the Ambassador from China to the US was invited to join in a breakfast at The Benson Hotel. I was also invited and knew that I would be asked to say the concluding remarks. Sitting across from Ambassador Zhou Wenshong I listened intently to his message and what the speakers who spoke on behalf of their company, US Reliant, Inc. had to say. When it was my turn to speak I addressed the entire room by saying that although we had only been in this room for an hour, we are now a family.

The Ambassador’s wife, Xie Shumin returned my statement with an approving acknowledgement that was shown in her nod. I continued to say that the company was going to China and that they would, thanks to the efforts of the Ambassador and my friend, Jin Lan, who organized this breakfast, make acquaintances with a number of large manufacturing companies in China. I had been thinking that US Reliant had only 25 employees, not enough to fill even one small bus. Yet because of the relationships started today they would be able to have these high-level meetings. In turn, I suggested that small Chinese companies should be afforded similar opportunities to meet large US companies.

I finished by making a prediction. I said that one year from this date, if we meet again we will see how far the ripples on the ponds that we are creating today have expanded. Apparently my message struck a cord. When I closed by stating my appreciation for being invited to speak today, I heard a round of applause.

Question: Is there a common ground or a symbol that can bring Chinese and the US companies closer together? I have an idea which is another one of my postings. Have you found it? What are your views on the current business relationship between the US and China?