U.S.-China bilateral relations need work

The Olympics were great, but it's all about the cultural understanding if China and the United States are going to  build a successful working relationship, Dr. George said to a college audience today (Wednesday, Oct. 1).  Koo is special advisor to the Chinese Services Group at Deloitte & Touche and longtime U.S.-China bilateral trade consultant. 

"Given the recent financial turmoil on Wall Street and the increasing importance of China, holding close to $1 trillion of our treasury notes and government debt, it becomes increasingly relevant that we develop a measure of respect for someone that is likely to end up owning a bit of America in exchange for bailing us out of our financial excesses," Koo said. 

Born in Changting, Fujian province, in 1938, Koo grew up in Seattle, getting degrees from MIT, Stevens Institute and Santa Clara University. He has been an outspoken and popular speaker and writer aside from his economic work advising businesses on locating in China.

Koos appeared before an audience at Pitzer College, one of the Claremont Colleges, in Claremont, Ca. near Los Angelese. About 100 were expected at the Gold Student Center.

That appearance was an indication of the greater interest in getting serious about cultural understanding between the U.S. and China, said Stehanie Poseiro, director of the Center for Asian Pacific American Students (CAPAS). That group sponsored Koo's talk along with the Pomona Pacific Basin Institute.

"Our goal is to bring greater awareness of China to encourage more Asian-american visibility," Poseiro said.  "The Olympics had people talking about what Americans should know about China."

Not much has changed has far as lack of cultural understanding in the 30 years he has been involved in bilateral trade and communication, Koo said.

"There remains a lot about China that America does not understand and I continue to feel that the role of a cultural intermediary is as relevant as ever," Koo continued. "As the two arguably most powerful nations and economies in the world, a strong positive bilateral relationship is important not only to the peoples of the two countries but to a peaceful world."

While Koo has been highly critical of Western media coverage of China, he said his current focus was on helping people see the realities of China rather than an artificial picture. He cited examples of this ranging from the Olympics, China nuclear question and human rights to the environment, economics, foreign policy, Taiwan, Tibet  and even views of Chinese leadership.

"We Americans have trouble understanding the seeming contradiction of a democracy functioning within a single party rule," Koo said.

"But there is something to be said about the Chinese system of governing," Koo said. "Leaders are judged and promoted based on the merits of their past performance...These promotions came not because of unilateral decisions of a strong man but through consensus, compromise and horse trading between various factions."

For more of Koo's views visit http://georgekoo.blogspot.com/

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