On Friday, April 27, 2018, the Hong Kong Association of Southern California hosted a business forum addressing the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) advocated by the Government of China. The Forum, which featured a keynote addressing the importance of overland, over-water and digital connectivity and commerce among the 80 participant countries by Ambassador Zhang Ping, China’s Consul General in Los Angeles, also featured an address by Leech Tishman, covering approaches to risk consideration, risk management and transactional contract structure for international infrastructure projects.
After the formal presentations, members of the firm joined other speakers in a more informal roundtable discussing topical matters and addressing questions from the Forum’s attendees. A speaker at the event commented, “This event featured presentations on the ideas, insights and development related to China’s BRI, both in terms of infrastructure and digital connectivity and global economic development, and transferred important knowledge on how U.S. companies can take advantage of the related opportunities and trends in other countries.” Attendees gained an understanding of the emerging opportunities in the Greater Bay Area of Hong Kong, Macao, and Guangdong, and had the opportunity to network with the speakers and contacts from Hong Kong’s government and businesses and others involved in matters related to the BRI.
The Belt and Road Initiative, an infrastructure development strategy proposed and advocated by the Chinese government , focuses on connectivity and cooperation between Eurasian countries, through the land-based Silk Road Economic Belt (SREB) and the trans-ocean Maritime Silk Road (MSR), and is a visionary blueprint that seeks to enhance global economic development and reinvigorate the seamless flow of capital, goods and services by promoting international connectivity and forging new ties among communities. Although China has repeatedly presented it as an initiative for Asia, Europe, and Africa, which is also the way most Western observers perceive it, in 2017 the BRI went truly global as part of a cultural and economic foreign policy strategy through which China aims to leverage its position as a leading economic power.
The Hong Kong Association of Southern California was established for the facilitation and strengthening of business and economic relationship between Hong Kong and Southern California. Danton K. Mak, an intellectual property practice partner with Leech Tishman, is the current president of the Association, and notes, “The Association promotes an understanding of Hong Kong within the United States and throughout the international business community and provides a clearinghouse for information on trade and investment opportunities as well as optimizing networking opportunities among industry professionals who have a common interest in Hong Kong. Events such as the BRI Forum are of interest and value for Southern California businesses.”
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Notable Speakers:
- Ambassador Zhang Ping, Consul General, Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Los Angeles
- Ivanhoe Chang, Director, Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in San Francisco
- Chris Lo, Director, Los Angeles, Hong Kong Trade Development Council
- Perry Wong, Managing Director; Research, The Milken Institute
Moderator:
Donald J. Lewis, Adjunct Professor, School of Management, University of San Francisco