While U.S. economic ties with China have been strained of late, the ongoing working relationship between USCIB and our main Chinese counterpart organizations is growing closer. USCIB President and CEO Peter M. Robinson is in Beijing and Xian this week, meeting with top officials from the China Enterprise Confederation (CEC), the China Chamber of International Commerce (CCOIC) and China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and other groups.

Both CEC and CCPIT/CCOIC are part of USCIB’s global network. CEC serves as the Chinese affiliate of the International Organization of Employers (IOE), and as such represents Chinese employers in the International Labor Organization. Robinson, who also serves as IOE vice chair for North America, met with CEC Vice Chair and Director General Zhu Hongren and other senior staff. He discussed USCIB’s work on the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the Business for 2030 website, the Future of Work, as well as climate change, trade and the UN Global Compact.

CCOIC houses ICC-China, the International Chamber of Commerce national committee in the country. In addition, its partner organization, CCPIT, like USCIB, serves as the national guaranteeing association for ATA Carnets, the “merchandise passports” developed by ICC. They played host to the meeting of WATAC, the World ATA Council, which encompasses all ATA Carnet guaranteeing associations. Robinson met with Yu Jianlong, secretary general of CCOIC and ICC-China, and other officials including Deputy Director Director General Yu Min. In addition to Carnet matters, they discussed emerging policy challenges including the “conflict of interest” discussions at the UN climate talks, where activist groups and some governments are seeking to limit the private sector’s access to the negotiations.

Robinson also met with officials of the Silk Road Chamber of International Commerce. USCIB Director of Carnet Claims Administration Anna Zhang is accompanying him on his mission to China.