Center News

Womble Carlyle Delegation Visited China

CRC platinum sponsor Womble Carlyle Sandridge and Rice, PLLC sent a delegation of nine lawyers led by former North Carolina Governor Jim Hunt to China for a 10-day trip in March. The group was composed of attorneys from Womble’s various offices and many practice groups. Guanming Fang, a member of the CRC Advisory Board, was primarily responsible for organizing the trip.  The delegation went to Beijing, Tianjin, Jinan, Changsha, Shanghai, Suzhou, and Ningbo, visiting 14 Chinese companies and meeting with government officials.  In addition, the group hosted two seminars, one in Beijing and one in Shanghai, to introduce the firm and its home base: the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Among the events was a presentation at the semi-annual conference of Zsoft, a trade association based in Beijing of software outsourcing companies. The delegation also had meetings at the offices of the U.S. Commercial Service at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing and with lawyers from U.S. and Chinese law firms.

The principal purpose of the China mission was to begin to introduce Womble Carlyle as the go-to law firm for Chinese companies that will be expanding their business into the U.S. market, especially in the firm’s footprint.  There is widespread and strong interest among Chinese companies in the U.S. market, and many are looking for strategic opportunities in the U.S.  They are interested in learning new concepts, new technology, management systems and processes. They are also interested in building or acquiring brands. Intellectual property protection is a topic that came up often. The Chinese government is also encouraging mature Chinese companies to go overseas.  Many companies the delegation met are ready and capable of doing so.  However, the cost of doing business in the U.S. remains a barrier for many.

Still, the delegation believes that China presents a great potential for business in the long term.  Staying in the game of attracting this business will be challenging and require persistence and a long term strategy, which Womble is prepared to develop and implement. 

Mercer University Hosted Forum on China’s Energy Policies

China is increasing energy use at unprecedented rates, and American consumers are already feeling the pinch at the gas pumps. China’s spectacular economic growth is helping to drive increases in demand — and prices — for world oil supplies. As these forces continue, where will China place itself?

Approximately 40 people discussed the question at a forum held on April 22, 2007, on Mercer University’s Atlanta campus. Entitled “China’s Energy Policy: Implications for International Affairs and Economic Development,” the forum was jointly sponsored by the Atlanta Chapter of the U.S.-China Peoples Friendship Association and the China Research Center.  

The discussion touched on three important areas:  the impact of China’s economic development and government development policy on energy use and options; the international relations implications of energy policies and pressures; and domestic opinion and politics of these energy issues. 

Panelists for the forum included: John W. Garver, professor at The Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, Georgia Institute of Technology and China Research Center associate; Yawei Liu, director of The China Program at The Carter Center and associate professor at Georgia Perimeter College and Center associate; and Penelope B. Prime, professor of Economics and Business, Mercer University, and Center director.

China is already the second largest economy in the world after the U.S. and the second largest consumer of energy.  It is projected that the country’s energy needs will increase 150 percent by 2020. 

This process will, of course, put additional pressure on energy supplies and prices around the world.  In addition, China’s foreign policy will need to take energy needs increasingly into consideration, especially with rising concerns about the environment and the need to craft policies that will ensure sustainable world development.