ITS Day 4- Beijing

Our first full day in Beijing proved that what you hear about the smog is true and that should not deter anyone from enjoying the city.

The first stop of the day was at the U.S. Embassy where we had an opportunity to speak with Ryan Scott with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s office in China.  After learning about the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s work to eliminate trade barriers, we headed over to the U.S. Grains Council where we learned about their work in the region. Kevin Eblen, with Monsanto, shared his experiences with the business environment in a developing market.  Paul Burke with The American Soybean Association spoke on the  growing demand for soy products in Asia.  Anita Tang compared business strategies for markets in the U.S. and China.  Mr. Han Ke, from a Chinese think tank, discussed the basis for how Chinese agriculture policy is developed. The end cap on this day was a social exchange hosted by the Chinese brand of The American Chamber of Commerce. There are many young professional leaders in Beijing who are seeking to establish business relationships in the dynamic Chinese market.

During the travels through the city, we noticed the unique architecture and the large number of construction projects as China tries to accomidate the shifting population from rural to urban.

One speaker shared that there are now three cities in the world with populations over 25 million in population, and by 2025 there will be 15!