All News Stories

• Carolina China Council Elects New Board Members

  At its 2012 annual board meeting held in Raleigh on April 29, CCC's current board unanemously approved the board membership of Ms. Jian (Gina) Qiao, Senior Vice President of Lenovo Group, Ms. Anna Lamm, US Director of the Confucius Institute at NC State University, and Mr. Bruce Elliston, a well established physician with the Extended Care Management in Asheville, NC. With the retirement of Wei Xie, Jianxiong Zhang, David Wolff and Meng Li from the board, the 2012-2013 Board members are: Harris Blake, Lian Xie, Lee Anne Nance, Lee Settle, Jian Qiao, Robin Cummings, Anna Lamm, Michael Collozi and Houqi Zhang. The new Board approved elected Mr. Lee Settle, one of the founders of Durham based Square-1-Bank as CCC's new Vice President.

• Travel Scholarships for NC College Students and Teachers

  In partnership with Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China and Xinjiang University, the Carolina China Council announces the availability of international travel scholarships for North Carolina college students and teachers to participate in a three-week "International Cultural Exchange Program with Xinjiang, China" from June 10 to 30, 2012. The travel scholarship will cover all expenses including international travel, hotel, meals, ground transportation, field trips and educational programs, except for a $200 application fee. Both undergraduate and graduate students can apply. Teachers can also apply as supervisors. For more details, please refer to the program application materials.

  • Application Materials for Students
  • Application Materials for Teachers
  • Reference letter for students

• NC China Town Center Celebration Party

  

  February 11, 2012 - In collaboration with local Chinese American Friendship Association and Chinese language schools, the Carolina China Council (CCC) and Panda Properties Sino LLC hosted a celebration party for the launching of the first China Town Center in North Carolina at the Morrisville Outlet Mall, the future home of the center. A crowd of nearly 8000 attended the celebration making it the largest event organized by the Chinese community in the State. The launching of the NC China Town Center was the result of a partnership between the CCC and Panda Properties Sino LLC, the Center's primary developer. This partnership enabled Panda to take advantage of CCC's large investor and client base in China, which led to the selection of Changsha Chamber of Commerce as one of the project's Chinese co-developers. News 14 Carolina also covered the event.

• Hunan Friendship Delegation visits North Carolina

  Madam Yang Chune, Deputy Director General of Hunan Foreign Affairs Office, led a 13 member government and business representatives to visit North Carolina on July 14 and 15. The main objective of their visit is to discuss tourism cooperation and foster friendship between Hunan and North Carolina.

• 2011 Bridge Fellowship Recipients Participate Chinese Culture Summer Camp in Beijing and Hunan

  Durham County Jordan High School teacher Pedro Bolanos is leading a 6 member summer camp group touring China from July 6 to 21. They are supported by the "Bridge Fellowship" awarded by the Carolina China Council. This year's fellowship was made possible by a generous donation from CCC Chairman and State Senator Harris Blake.

• Zhuzhou Sun Mall Completes Phase I Study for a Modern Factory Outlet

  Zhuzhou, Hunan Province is on its way to build one of the world's largest shopping centers which will also house a modern factory outlet, as pointed out by a feasibility study done by a leading factory outlet consultant group led by QTM based in the United States. The Carolina China Council coordinated the study.

• Mr. Zhang Chunxian, Honorable Governor of Xinjiang Autonomous Region, China visits North Carolina

  Governor Zhang Chunxian and his 18 member delegation from China visited the famous high-tech hub Research Triangle Park, the financial center Charlotte, and Cherokee Indian Reservation from June 9-11. State Senators Harris Blake, Jim Davis and Tommy Tucker accompanied the delegation throughout their visit to North Carolina.

• North Carolina-Hunan Summit held in Washington DC on February 26

  North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue, Commerce Secretary Keith Crisco and other members of the NC delegation met a high-level delegation from Hunan Province led by Hunan Governor Zhou Qiang.  The two governors discussed a broad range of topics on the cooperation between North Carolina and Hunan. The meeting was arranged by China People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CAFFC) and the US National Governors Association with assistance from the Carolina China Council (CCC). CAFFC President Madam Li Xiaolin, CCC Chairman Harris Blake, President Lian Xie were present at the meeting.

• Michale Colozzi, David Wolff and Meng Li elected to CCC Executive Board

  Carolina China Council 2011 annual Board of Directors meeting was held in Raleigh on February 6.  Seven current board members and three new members were elected to serve for a 12-month term ending in February 2012. The two retiring board members were elected to the Advisory Board.

• Hunan Governor Zhou Qiang to Visit the United States

  Hunan Governor Zhou Qiang has been invited by the US National Governor's Association (NGA) to attend the 2011 NGA Winter Meeting in Washington DC from February 25-28. Governor Zhou is representing the governors of Chinese provinces to meet with his counterparts in the United States to discuss a new mechanism for US-China dialog at the governors level.

• CCC President meets Chairman of Yibang Group

  On January 6, Lian Xie, President of CCC met Mr. Ying Zhongshu, Chairman of Yibang Group of Wenzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China in Beijing. The two agreed to collaborate on the promotion of Chinese commercial real estate in the United States. Mr. Ying is a member of the Chinese Political Consultative Congress and an influential business leader in China.

• Vice Chairman Ni Yuefeng Meets CCC President in Beijing

  On December 23, 2010 Mr. Ni Yuefeng, Vice Chairman of Environment and Natural Resource Commission, China National People's Congress, met Lian Xie, CCC president and Professor of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, NC State University,  in Beijing to discuss ways to reduce China's air and water pollution. Prof. Xu Xiangde, Member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and Prof. Wang Hui, Director General of China National Marine Environment Forecasting Center were also present at the meeting. Dr. Zhang Houqi, Former Vice President of Lenovo Group and Chairman of CCC Beijing Office hosted the meeting. The Environment and Natural Resources Commission is a ministry-level government agency in charge of making environmental protection laws in China.

• Hunan Tianyi Group selects Carolina China Council as Its International Business Partner: 

  On December 26, 2010, the Carolina China Council was selected as the chief international marketing partner by Hunan Tianyi Group. Tianyi Group is investing over US$1.5 billion in developing China’s largest shopping center, referred to as the Shennong City, in Zhuzhou, the birth place of the first king of China (Emperor Yan). Shennong City will provide over 5 million square-feet of premium space for retail shops, restaurants and entertainment.

• The Green Equipment Solutions Selects Carolina China Council as Its Exclusive Marketing Partner:

  Michael Covington, President and CEO of Green Equipment Solutions and Lian Xie, President of Carolina China Council signed a service agreement to grant the Carolina China Council as the exclusive marketing partner for Green Equipment Solutions products in China.

• Team Formed to Increase Export of Agricultural Products to China: 

  On December 16, 2010, a team led by experienced business leader Michael Colozzi was established to increase the exports of NC agricultural products to China. The establishment of the agricultural trade promotion team was at the request of Chinese food processing companies in Shanghai and other major cities.

• Hunan Commerce Delegation Visit North Carolina: 

  Mr. Liu Jie, Director General of the Department of Commerce of Hunan Province, China, led a 14 member delegation, representing high-level government officials and business leaders from Hunan Province, visited North Carolina from November 21-24. The delegation toured Duke University, NC Biotechnology Center, the Hamner Institute of Health Science, and Glaxo Smith Kline and attended a business forum at the Duke Fuqua School of Business.  The delegation also took the opportunity to tour Pinehurst, the sister city of Zhijiang, Hunan Province. A number of business leads have been established during their visit. The Carolina China Council will follow up with the relevant parties in both Hunan and North Carolina to turn the business leads and intents to reality.

• Beijing Delegation Visit North Carolina: 

  During October 14-15, a high-level delegation led by Mr. Hou Junshu, the top leader of Changping District of Beijing city, visited North Carolina. Beijing Changping is located 25 miles to the northwest of downtown Beijing and is nick named the high-tech park city of Beijing. Their itinerary included a visit to the Research Triangle Regional Partnership, the Triangle Park, local universities and businesses, and the Village of Pinehurst.

• North Carolina Delegates Attend World Peace Festival: 

  On September 7, a North Carolina delegation led by State Senator Harris Blake attended the 2010 International Peace Festival celebrating the 65th anniversary of the victory of allied forces during World War II. The NC delegation was part of US delegation led by former US President Jimmy Carter.

• Pinehurst and Zhijiang Formalize Sister City Relationship: 

  Pinehurst of North Carolina and Zhijiang Dong Autonomous County of Hunan Province formalized their sister city relationship on September 7. The sister city agreement was signed by the representatives of both parties at the famous World War II Flying Tigers’ airbase in Zhijiang.

• Zhijiang Delegation Visit Pinehurst:

  July 31-August 2, Pinehurst hosted a friendship delegation from Zhijiang Dong Autonomous County of Hunan Province led by Mr. Tang Chengyun, Chairman of Zhijiang People’s Congress. The two sides discussed formalization of their sister city relationship and ways to promote friendship and economic development.

• North Carolina Students and Teachers Participate Chinese Cultural Summer Camp in Hunan: 

  June 24-July 7, 7 North Carolina high school and college students and 3 teachers participated a two-week Chinese cultural camp in Zhangjiajie, Hunan Province. Their trip was made possible by the “Bridge Fellowship” awarded by the Carolina China Council with funding from Hunan Department of Education. The fellowship covered all expenses in China as well as $1100 airfare.

• North Carolina Sister City Delegation Visit Hunan:

  During June 22-27, an 18-member North Carolina Sister City delegation attended the 2010 International Sister City Forum held in Changsha, Hunan Province. The North Carolina delegates signed two sister city agreements and discussed ways to strengthen economic, cultural and educational exchanges with their counterparts in Hunan.

• North Carolina Commerce Secretary Keith Crisco Visits Hunan:

  At the invitation of Hunan Department of Commerce, North Carolina Commerce Secretary Keith Crisco visited Hunan from June 13-15. The North Carolina delegation met with his counterpart in Hunan, Mr. Liu Jie, Director General of Hunan Commerce Department, and Executive Vice Governor Yu Laishan. Other members of the North Carolina delegation include Bill Chou, NC Representative in Hong Kong, China, Leland Gaskins, NC Representative in Tokyo, Japan, Derek Chen, Program Manager at NC Department of Commerce, and Lian Xie, President of Carolina China Council.

• 10 North Carolina Students and Teachers Awarded “Bridge Fellowship”: 

  7 North Carolina high school and college students along with 3 teachers received “Bridge Fellowship” awards at a ceremony held at the 35 Chinese Restaurant. The fellowship will cover all expenses in China as well as $1100 cash award for the recipients to participate in a two-week Chinese cultural summer camp in Zhangjiajie, Hunan, China. Mr. Chen Zhaoxiong, Vice Governor of Hunan Province, Mr. Howard Lee, Executive Director of NC Education Cabinet, and Mrs. June Atkinson, State Superintendent of NC Public Schools presented the award certificates to the recipients.

• Hunan Vice Governor Chen Zhaoxiong Visits North Carolina:

  During June 8-9, a high-level delegation of 14 government officials and corporate executives from Hunan Province led by Vice Governor Chen Zhaoxiong visited North Carolina. The delegation toured the Research Triangle Park, visited select corporations located in the park and discussed with corporate executive and NC government officials on a wide range of topics to enhance the bilateral cooperation between Hunan and North Carolina.

• Zhuzhou National Hi Tech Park to Partner with Carolina China Council: 

  March 15, 2010: Today Hunan Zhuzhou National High Tech Park signed an agreement with the Carolina China Council (CCC) to become business partners.  According to the agreement, CCC will promote Zhuzhou High Tech Park in the United States and assist Zhuzhou in the recruitment of businesses and skilled employees. For each successful project, CCC will be compensated for its effort as a percentage of the investment it introduced to Zhuzhou.