On December 3, local time, the 2024 Annual Meeting of the Chicago Chapter of the U.S.-China General Chamber of Commerce, led by Wanxiang USA, was solemnly held at the Hilton Hotel in Chicago. Chinese Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng delivered a video address at the invitation of the organizers. Mike Pence, the 48th Vice President of the United States, attended and delivered a speech. Ni Pin, President of Wanxiang USA and Chairman of the Chicago Chapter of the U.S.-China General Chamber of Commerce, also delivered a speech.

Nearly 1,000 people from various sectors—including U.S. federal legislators, city mayors, former political figures, business leaders, and experts and scholars—as well as representatives from Chinese-funded institutions and enterprises, attended the annual conference.

In his speech, Xie Feng emphasized that as the 45th anniversary of China-U.S. diplomatic relations approaches and the U.S. election draws to a close, China-U.S. relations once again stand at a new historical juncture. “When we cooperate, both sides benefit; when we compete, we all suffer.” The two largest economies—the United States and China—should further expand their mutual cooperation and develop mutually beneficial trade relations. The relationship between our two countries should move steadily forward, rather than taking two steps backward for every step forward. A “win-win” outcome is the best choice for China and the United States. The business communities of both countries have never been outsiders in China-U.S. relations; they have always been the backbone supporting China-U.S. cooperation. The Midwest region of the U.S. has historically been a hotbed of China-U.S. economic and trade cooperation. A large number of Chinese enterprises, including Wanxiang, have invested and started businesses here, continuously writing vivid stories of win-win cooperation between China and the U.S. We hope everyone will speak out to safeguard their own interests, work tirelessly to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, and do their utmost to enhance the well-being of our peoples. Let us continue to play the role of “ballast stone” and “stabilizer” in economic and trade cooperation, injecting fresh momentum into China-U.S. relations and opening up new horizons.

Pence delivered a speech at the annual meeting.

Pence reflected on his personal interactions with President Xi Jinping, noting that although China and the U.S. have serious differences, both sides must find a path to coexistence. The U.S. and China should not be enemies. He also expressed gratitude for Wanxiang’s efforts in promoting the continued development of U.S.-China relations. Pence further elaborated on the U.S. government’s stance on U.S.-China relations, emphasizing that tariffs are not aimed at curbing China’s development, but rather at achieving trade balance between the two countries and driving structural reforms in China. He stressed that the U.S. and China need to engage in candid and honest negotiations.

Before the annual meeting, Pence and Ni Pin exchanged stories about his visit to Wanxiang.

During the afternoon’s ambassadorial forum, former U.S. Ambassadors to China Gary Locke, Jon Huntsman, and Ted Osius all agreed that China and the United States have a significant degree of complementarity and mutual interdependence. Many U.S. officials have never visited China and are even less familiar with the real situation in China and the thoughts of the Chinese people. Making policy decisions based on limited—or even biased—information can lead to one-sidedness. They pointed out that we should follow the laws of market development and respect the people’s choices and aspirations.

In their remarks, Chicago Mayor Johnson and Maryland Governor Murphy both enthusiastically affirmed the role of China’s economic and trade exchanges in promoting U.S. economic development. Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Rodriguez expressed her heartfelt appreciation, noting that since establishing a friendly relationship with Heilongjiang Province in 1982, Wisconsin has now established trade ties with most of China’s provinces, cities, and municipalities. These exchanges span various sectors—including agricultural products, biopharmaceuticals, machining, and energy—and have reached an economic volume of 1.9 billion U.S. dollars, creating more than 15,000 jobs in Wisconsin. She expressed deep gratitude for having such a valuable partnership.

Ni Pin delivered a speech at the annual gala dinner.

Ni Pin expressed his gratitude to all the guests for attending the Chamber of Commerce’s forum and annual meeting during this cold period in U.S.-China relations. He noted that over the past 45 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the U.S. and China, cooperation between the two countries has opened doors, created opportunities, and fostered prosperity for their peoples. It is regrettable that, 45 years later, as the world has become smaller, the gap between the U.S. and China on key issues has actually widened. However, just as in business where conflicting interests are always present, the key lies in being able to find solutions that benefit both sides through sincere negotiations, thorough exchanges, and open-minded mutual understanding. He hopes that all the attendees will remain steadfast and undaunted, pooling their efforts bit by bit to forge a new horizon of U.S.-China cooperation.

At the gala awards ceremony, Wang Baodong, Chinese Consul General in Chicago, presented Alan, President of the U.S.-China Business Council, with the “Bridge-Builder Award for U.S.-China Relations,” recognizing his outstanding efforts in promoting and fostering the development of U.S.-China relations and enhancing friendly interactions between the two countries. At the same time, former Chicago Mayor Daley was awarded the “U.S.-China Legacy Achievement Award,” in gratitude for his decades-long exceptional contributions to advancing U.S.-China cooperation and strengthening bilateral ties. During their long-term collaboration, Daley and Wanxiang forged a deep friendship. In 2011, as co-chair of Wanxiang’s “100,000 Strong in U.S.-China” initiative, Daley made his first visit to Wanxiang and, together with Lu Guanqiu, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Wanxiang Group, signed the Chicago-based Wanxiang Cooperation Project Agreement, thus launching this cross-border cultural exchange program between China and the U.S., which has now lasted over a decade and will continue for the long term. In 2012, Daley was appointed as a Senior Advisor to Wanxiang Group by its Board of Directors. At the appointment ceremony, Daley stated that Wanxiang is our best partner in China, and Wanxiang also needs good partners in the U.S.; he expressed his hope for even deeper cooperation with Wanxiang.

Chicago Mayor Johnson and Ni Pin, President of Wanxiang USA, renewed the Wanxiang “100,000 Strong in China-U.S.” agreement.

Before the gala, Chicago Mayor Johnson and Ni Pin, President of Wanxiang USA, signed a renewal agreement on behalf of both sides for Wanxiang’s “100,000 Strong in China-U.S.” program at Chicago public high schools.