Sanctioned dinner guest Wang Chen could give AmCham China a headache in US
- The most senior Chinese leader to be hit by recent US sanctions has attended a business event celebrating bilateral trade ties
- The annual dinner brings together US and Chinese officials and businesses
A top Chinese legislator sanctioned by the US joined an annual dinner hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Beijing to celebrate bilateral trade ties in a move that could lead to criticism of the business group in the US.
Despite the US sanctions, Wang, who is also a Politburo member, was China’s top representative at AmCham China’s Appreciation Dinner, an annual event that brings together US and Chinese officials and businesses.
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He called on American businesses to play an active role in repairing ties between the world’s two biggest economies. “[We] hope Amcham China and its member companies will continue to play an active role in promoting the resumption of dialogues between the two countries and work towards rebuilding mutual trust and bringing bilateral relations back on the right track.”
Wang said China was committed to opening up and building a “market-oriented, law-based, and international business environment”.
He also told the gathering that China would fully implement the foreign investment law that took effect early this year, ease market access and ensure that all companies operating in China would receive equal treatment.
China often designates a representative with an economically focused portfolio, such as Vice-Premier Hu Chunhua, the guest at last year’s dinner. Wang spent much of his career in various propaganda roles, including a stint as editor-in-chief of party mouthpiece People’s Daily.
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The appearance by such an official at an AmCham event could feed criticism in Washington that the US business community has not sufficiently defended broader American interests while pursuing access to the Chinese market.
AmCham did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Wang‘s attendance was a sign that China was committed to opening up.
“The attendance shows the sanctions imposed by the US are unpopular, and not supported by many sectors in the US,” she added.
Henry Wang, president of Beijing think tank the Centre for China and Globalisation, said sending a Politburo member showed “the high level of importance” with which China treated the event.
Additional reporting by Bloomberg
