A China-US economic and trade matchmaking conference in New York brought Shaanxi businesses together with US-based professionals and organizations on Monday to explore new opportunities for cooperation.
The event, held at the Bank of China USA in Manhattan, was aimed at helping companies that manufacture natural plant-based products, including food, beverages and additives in China, specifically Shaanxi, to forge closer business ties in the US, although some already export to North America.
Fan Weibin, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of Shaanxi Provincial People's Congress, said he was "delighted" to lead the delegation to New York.
"The essence of China-US economic and trade relations lies in mutual benefit and win-win outcomes. The economies of our two nations are deeply intertwined, with shared interests that bind us together. The business communities on both sides have consistently been participants, witnesses and contributors to our cooperation."
The conference in New York came after Shaanxi attended an open house at the Chinese embassy in Washington on Saturday, with the theme "Discover Shaanxi: Where the Silk Road Starts, Wonders Await".
There, products, art and food from Shaanxi were on display.
Shaanxi, famous for being the starting point of the ancient Silk Road, is also known for its biangbiang noodles, roujiamo (a Chinese burger), music and dance from the Tang Dynasty (618-907), and the Terracotta Army exhibitions.
The northwestern Chinese province was lauded by Ambassador Xie Feng as embodying the enduring continuity of Chinese civilization and is widely seen as an essential place for understanding China's long history.
The province is also playing a role in strengthening China-US friendship, as Shaanxi and its cities have established 13 sister-city relationships with US counterparts, according to Xie.
Man-Li Kuo Lin, economic development specialist at the US Small Business Administration New York District Office, spoke about several initiatives to help small businesses.
These include ways to increase access to capital, loans and public and private investment opportunities.
Later, there was a signing ceremony and further talks by industry professionals.
Jeffery Jones, chairman of the Council for Trade and Investment Promotion, or CTIP and a former mayor of Paterson, New Jersey, works for an organization that aims to enhance business opportunities for overseas investors.
Jones said it was crucial for events like the conference to take place to bring US and Chinese professionals together.
Jones told China Daily: "If, economically, we need families working, we need businesses growing, we need new technologies to move the world forward. And if we don't have these kinds of events, none of that happens."
Jones added: "At CTIP, we believe that everything is about local to global. And so, depending on what part of the world you're in, you're local, and where you want to go is global. And we just keep moving that around. We understand. Change happens if we decide to change first."
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Daniel Mabey, Asia region president and director of strategic markets for the United Natural Products Alliance, said his company is streamlining operations to help overseas clients access the US market and its manufacturers.
Mabey told China Daily: "To have this type of matchmaking conference is important because the industry has to have dialogue to kind of converge on compliance and standards and trade, because a lot of the supply chain in the dietary supplement industry is not transparent."
Several of the companies from Shaanxi at the US conference expressed their deep desire to expand overseas.
David Zhang, chairman of Chongqing Joywin Natural Products, told China Daily: "Events like this bring all these professional US and Chinese together, that makes a stronger bond. We need to get to know each other and communicate. That way we can help each other grow."
Contact the writers at belindarobinson@chinadailyusa.com
