Investment and Trade in China and Asia: Evolving Opportunities and Challenges

Seattle, April 11, 2024 – Asia Society Seattle hosts a discussion on the risks and rewards for current and future investments in the China and Asia amidst the evolving geopolitical tensions between U.S. and China

Speakers include Guonan Ma, Senior Fellow on Chinese Economy at the Asia Society Policy Institute's Center for China Analysis; Tim Stratford, Senior Counsel in Covington & Burling LLP’s Beijing office; and Dan Wang, chief economist at Hang Seng Bank China.

Together, the panelists discuss the geopolitical uncertainties between the United States and China, highlighting the perception of China as increasingly "uninvestable" among foreign investors. They emphasize the fragile nature of the relationship between China and the United States and how that contributes to the prevailing uncertainty felt by domestic and foreign businesses in China. This discussion raises questions about the delicate balance between stable relations and evolving external geopolitical dynamics.

Turning to the recent decline in foreign investment in China, factors such as heightened efficiency among domestic counterparts come into focus. Chinese companies are fueled by government support, with the aim of boosting self-sufficiency and mitigating foreign leverage in China. The speakers agree that collaboration and mutual understanding between nations is crucial. The discussion concludes with concerns about navigating the declining cultural exchange between the two countries and emphasizes the need to foster more cultural collaboration. Leveraging business connections could serve as a catalyst for cross-cultural engagement.

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