The CGCC-Los Angeles Annual Gala was held in Los Angeles Millennium Biltmore Hotel on Feb 22, 2018.
Chairman of CGCC-Los Angeles, Vice Chairman of CGCC, President of AVIC International USA, Sherman Zhang, gave welcome remarks. VIP speakers included Ambassador Zhang Ping, Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Los Angeles; Kathryn Barger, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisor; Joe Buscaino, Los Angeles City Councilman; Felipe Cusnir, Director of International Trade & Investment, representing office of Mayor Eric Garcetti. Representatives from Governor Brown’s office, State of Idaho and Nebraska together with over 300 attendees, including US-China business leaders attended the gala.
Ambassador Zhang Ping, Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Los Angeles emphasized the importance and inter-connectedness of U.S.-China relations in the opening speech, noting,“China and the US account for 1/3 of the world’s economy, 1/4 of the world’s population and 1/5 of the global trade. China now is the largest trading partner, the largest source of import and the third largest export market for California.” Ambassador Zhang spoke highly of CGCC-Los Angeles’ role in raising the profiles of the Chinese investment among the local communities and in promoting economic and trade ties between China and the U.S., contributing a great deal to the understanding and friendship between our two peoples and wish the chamber together the members continue to reach out to the local business community as well as people of all walks of life by sharing successful stories of mutual beneficial cooperation, doing more on social responsibility for the local community and promoting greater understanding and friendship between Chinese and American peoples.
Chairman of CGCC-Los Angeles, Vice Chairman of CGCC, President of AVIC International USA, Sherman Zhang, reviewed the achievements and efforts made over the past year in furthering U.S.-China business ties. “We are confident that Chinese investments and enterprises can continue to integrate locally in Los Angeles. By working together we can have further positive impact on the local economy and contribute to enhancing U.S.-China relations.”
Kathryn Barger, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisor; Joe Buscaino, Los Angeles City Councilman and Los Angeles Mayor Garcetti office representative Felipe Cusnir spoke highly of Chinese enterprises’ contribution to local economic growth and job creation, such as BYD’s plant expansion in Lancaster created more than 1,200 job opportunities. “Los Angeles welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest.”
Three categories of awards were presented to recognize CGCC-Los Angeles member companies’ and partners’ significant contributions. BYD Motors, ZPMC North America, COSCO (Los Angeles) Agency, ICBC and China Unicom Americas were presented with Outstanding Member Company awards. World Trade Center Los Angeles, ABC7 and Los Angeles County Alliance for Boys & Girls Clubs were presented with Excellent Business & Community Partner awards.
Community Excellence and Community Contribution Award recapped the huge success of the 5th Annual Community Program, which supported 22 exemplary youth leaders selected from 140,000 teenagers in the Greater Los Angeles area, who visited Xiamen, Shenzhen and Shanghai, and more than 10 leading Chinese and American enterprises, schools etc. The program not only demonstrated CGCC-Los Angeles’ commitment to social responsibility and engaging with the local community, but also took such commitment to the new level.
Xiamen Airlines, Coolpad Technologies, BYD Motors, COMAC Americas and International Vitamin Corporation were presented with Community Excellence awards. North American Representative Office of Shenzhen, Landsea Homes, PwC, Squire Patton Boggs, Shanghai Foreign Investment Development Board Los Angeles Office, Shanghai Spring International Travel Services USA were presented Community Contribution awards.
CGCC-LA presents much gratitude to Mr. Ting Shao Kuang, one of the most prominent contemporary Chinese artists, who donated his favorite masterpiece “Man and Nature” to support CGCC-Los Angeles’ mission.
Chairman of CGCC-Los Angeles, Vice Chairman of CGCC, president of AVIC International USA, Sherman Zhang awarded Mr. Ting Shao Kuang Honorable Chairman of CGCC-Los Angeles.
Thanks to Hainan Airlines for donating one round-trip business class ticket.
CGCC-LA Board Meeting and a networking reception for the attendees were held before the gala.
CGCC-Los Angeles Annual Gala was sponsored by CGCC, CHTC Bus Group, ZPMC North America, BYD Motors, China Mobile, Toursforfun, ICBC, Hainan Airlines, China Telecom America, Landsea Homes, Charming China.
