Los Angeles buzzed with cross-Pacific ambition as the 2025 China-California Business Forum opened its doors, uniting over 150 executives and officials under the theme 'Better Understanding, Better Business.' Now in its seventh year, the event serves as a rare neutral ground for dialogue amid lingering U.S.-China trade tensions.
California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis struck an optimistic tone in her keynote: 'Every container ship leaving our ports carries more than goods – it carries shared aspirations. Our challenge isn't avoiding disagreements, but building frameworks to resolve them.' Her Chinese counterpart, Vice Minister of Commerce Wang Shouwen, echoed the sentiment, emphasizing green technology and AI as potential collaboration frontiers.
Breakout sessions revealed practical steps forward. Agricultural exporters from Fresno discussed blockchain solutions for food traceability with Jiangsu-based tech firms, while Silicon Valley venture capitalists explored joint funding mechanisms for sustainable infrastructure projects. Notably, 40% of participating Chinese companies hailed from outside Beijing and Shanghai, signaling growing regional economic diversity.
As the forum concluded, organizers announced plans for a digital matchmaking portal to sustain connections. 'The real work begins when everyone flies home,' said event chair Michelle Zhao. 'But today proved that when business leads, politics follows.'
