The itinerary sounds exciting: Beijing, Hangzhou, Suzhou and
Shanghai in China. But a trip being taken now by business leaders
from Newport Beach is about far more than sightseeing.
For the past week, 130 business people from Newport Beach have
been in the Communist country, working on ways to develop business
relationships that can increase trade between the city and China.
They had plans to meet with Beijing's deputy mayor, Chinese business
leaders and several high-ranking Chinese government officials,
including members of the country's Administration of Foreign Trade
and Economic Corporation.
The trip, pitched by Newport Coast businessman Leo Liu and
sponsored by the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce, is an example of
the kind of aggressive efforts that make businesses succeed. Making
connections early with business people there -- the country is
slowly, and most hope surely, opening itself to more trade with
Western nations -- would appear to be a smart, though not sure, way
of getting in the door early.
China may at first not seem like a natural business partner for
Newport Beach. But Newport's location on the West Coast makes any
Asian country a natural market and partner for a variety of business
deals. China should be no exception (and other countries also deserve
similar missions).
Of course, there is debate about how and whether America -- via
its citizens and its businesses -- should be engaging China. In the
simplified version, one side argues that introducing American
culture, including its ideals and principles, will cajole China
toward democracy. The other says that only by keeping China isolated
will it be forced eventually to abandon its Marxist system.
While that debate is continuing, it is clearly in Newport Beach's
best interest to expand its market and find new places from which to
draw visitors.
It will be interesting to hear what the delegation has to report
upon its return.
