After a four-year hiatus, Committee of 100 was excited to resume our Greater China Conference & Gala. Held at the JW Marriott Shanghai at Tomorrow Square on November 16, 2024, the Conference & Gala brought together nearly 300 leaders and innovators from across Greater China and beyond to discuss important issues and celebrate achievements. 

The Conference & Gala was chaired by Committee of 100 Greater China Chair Eric Zheng. The planning committee included Committee of 100 Members Wei He, Richard Y. Lee, X. Rick Niu, Brian Wong, and Nora Wu. 

• The 2024 Greater China Conference agenda is available here. 

• The PDF program of the 2024 Greater China Gala is available here. 

Thank you to our Members, speakers, sponsors, media, and guests for making the 2024 Greater China Conference & Gala a memorable experience.

Proudly co-hosted by AmCham Shanghai

The conference kicked off with welcome remarks from Conference Chair Eric Zheng and Chair Gary Locke. First, they thanked the Greater China Conference & Gala 2024 sponsors, supporters, and the conference planning committee. Governor and Ambassador Gary Locke introduced the historical significance of the organization’s mission and how U.S.-China relations evolved over the past century. 

Scott Walker, Consul General at the U.S. Consulate General in Shanghai, shared an encouraging message for building bridges between the United States and China through cultural and educational exchange, allowing future generations to engage with both countries and societies. He remembered the experiences he gained while volunteering as an English teacher in Changchun, Jilin province. He concluded his remarks by stating that citizens of the United States and the People’s Republic of China must remain connected through people-to-people ties no matter the differences between our governments.

Panel: Implications of U.S. Elections on U.S.-China Relations: A Post Election Outlook

The panel, moderated by X. Rick Niu, Committee of 100 Member and Founder & CEO, Nexus Worldwide LLC, featured speakers Scott Kennedy, Trustee Chair in Chinese Business & Economics, Center for Strategic & International Studies; Bryan Lanza, Partner, Mercury Public Affairs; Gary Rieschel, Founding Managing Partner, Qiming Venture Partners; and Frank Slevin, Chairman, UK National Committee on China. Panelists pinpointed the Republican’s campaign strengths in the recent November election and made predictions on the incoming administration’s appointments, and economic and foreign relations policies. 

Attendees enjoyed a coffee break sponsored by BlankRome, which created an inviting atmosphere for attendees to connect before transitioning to the upcoming panel. 

Panel: Enhancing Global Collaborations Through Education: U.S.-China Higher Education Partnerships 

The second panel was moderated by Wei He, Committee of 100 Member and CEO and Artistic Director, Tianjin Juilliard School, with panelists Jeffrey Lehman, Vice Chancellor, NYU Shanghai; Xin Li, Associate Vice-Chancellor for Graduate Studies and Research, Duke Kunshan University; and Adam K. Webb, Co-Director and Resident Professor of Political Science, Hopkins-Nanjing Center. This panel explored how the dynamic relationship between U.S. and Chinese institutions equips educators, administrators, and policymakers with the tools to work in an interconnected world. Speakers elaborated on the importance of cross-cultural collaborations to drive global research advancements. While countries face unique challenges amid evolving geopolitical, cultural, and economic landscapes, this panel called for strategic partnerships that can build future generations of global leaders. 

Afterwards, conference attendees, speakers, and Committee of 100 members participated in a networking lunch. 

Fireside Chat: Voices of Legacy: Personal Journeys Through Music and Media 

We then joined Yue-Sai Kan, Committee of 100 Member and Emmy-Winning TV Producer and Host and Hao Jiang Tian, Committee of 100 Member and Internationally Renowned Opera Singer, for a conversation about their inspiring journeys as cultural ambassadors bridging East and West through opera, media, and beauty. This fireside chat was moderated by Ramy Inocencio, Committee of 100 Member and CBS News Foreign Correspondent.

Following the fireside chat, we held a book signing event that featured Yue-Sai Kan’s The Most Famous Woman in China and Hao Jiang Tian’s Turandot at the Arena (角斗场的《图兰朵》). 

Panel: Navigating U.S.-China Commercial Relations: Challenges, Opportunities, and Future Outlook 

This panel featured insights from experts Craig Allen, President of US-China Business Council; Harry Hui, Founder and Managing Partner of ClearVue Partners; and Kenneth Jarrett, Senior Advisor at Albright Stonebridge Group and focused on the evolving business environment in China and how U.S. and China businesses can navigate these complexities while fostering collaborations. Moderated by Brian A. Wong, Committee of 100 Member and Chairman and Founder, RADII Media. 

Before our last panel, attendees mingled, exchanged ideas, and made valuable connections during the coffee break sponsored by BlankRome.

Panel: Breaking Barriers: Women in Leadership for a Sustainable and Inclusive Future 

The last panel was moderated by Nora Wu, Committee of 100 Member and Trustee Member, University of San Francisco, and consisted of panelists Xiangwei Gong, Asia President & ExCom Member, AptarGroup; Echo Li, Global Chief Commercial Officer, Dentsu Sports International; and Sophia Wu, CEO, SHANG XI. These leaders discussed the importance of women leadership, advice to aspiring leaders, and women’s contributions to the workplace.

Governor and Ambassador Gary Locke concluded the conference, reflecting on the importance of the collaboration between the U.S. and China to address global challenges. 

Following the Conference sessions, we held our annual black-tie Gala honoring a group or individual who advance the interests and promotion of Asian American and Pacific Islander community in the various fields. 

After welcome remarks from Conference Chair Eric Zheng, the audience was graced with a piano performance by Leyu Xu, 15 years old, who was admitted to the Tianjin Juilliard Pre-College in 2019. Leyu Xu performed Oliver Messiaen’s Twenty Contemplations on the Infant Jesus, Number Ten, a vibrant and celebratory piece embodying the joy and glory of the Holy Spirit through complex rhythms.

Next, Ambassador Kishore Mahbubani, Distinguished Fellow, Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore was in conversation with X. Rick Niu, Committee of 100 member and Founder & CEO, Nexus Worldwide LLC. During this fireside chat, titled “Think Different: Can Any Dialogue Still Make Any Difference?”, Ambassador Mahbubani shared his perspective on the developments in U.S.-China relations, the leaders of the two countries, and the multilateralism of global politics. 

Richard Lee, Committee of 100 Member, and Chair and CEO, Amsino Medical Group, introduced the Committee of 100 Leadership in Diplomacy Award. This award is given to individuals who demonstrates leadership in managing the complex and critical bilateral relationship between the United States and China during these challenging times.

Ambassador Gary Locke presented the award to Ambassador Nicholas Burns, U.S. Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, for his unwavering commitment to diplomacy and his dedication to fostering understanding and cooperation between the two nations. Ambassador Burns was unable to attend the gala because he was called to attend President Biden’s meeting with PRC President Xi Jinping in Peru. Scott Walker, Consul General at the U.S. Consulate General in Shanghai, accepted the award on behalf of Ambassador Burns.

We were grateful that Ambassador Nicholas Burns, U.S. Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, join us via a video message. He spoke about bridging communication between the American and Chinese people through student exchange, tourism, arts, sports, and more. Ambassador Burns highlighted the progress in building up U.S. alliances in the Indo-Pacific. His speech further mentioned the importance of working with Committee of 100’s efforts to expand people to people connections.

Our last performance of the evening included two pieces, The Moon Represents My Heart (月亮代表我的心) and Some Enchanted Evening from “South Pacific,” by Committee of 100 Member and Internationally Renowned Opera Singer, Hao Jiang Tian, accompanied by his wife Martha Liao, President, Asian Performing Arts Council / iSING! Festival.

Ramy Inocencio, Committee of 100 Member and CBS News Foreign Correspondent, was our Master of Ceremonies. 

In conclusion, Committee of 100 thanked our speakers, performers, and guests for joining us in Shanghai this year and for making our event a success. The organization extends a special thank you to all our sponsors for supporting this Conference & Gala.  

We hope that you continue to be engaged with Committee of 100. To stay updated, please sign up for our news and events information and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. We look forward to seeing you in April of 2025 at our U.S. Conference & Gala, this year taking place in Los Angeles!

Thank you to all sponsors for your support!