I have just returned from Beijing, China where a delegation of state legislative leaders and I had the good fortune to meet with prominent Chinese political and business leaders. The purpose of our week long trip was to explore opportunities for future collaboration in the form of educational exchange programs between SLLF and China. I am pleased to report our meetings were very successful and we are now laying the groundwork for a major program in Beijing at Peking University sometime in late 2008 or 2009.

One cannot visit China and not be impressed with the rapid pace of change everywhere. The Beijing skyline is crisscrossed with high-rise construction cranes and every building seems to be draped and under renovation. The Chinese are taking the Summer Olympics seriously!

Though the air pollution is severe, every street and sidewalk is immaculate; no graffiti to be spied anywhere, and city lights that resemble Times Square more than Tiananmen.

China is most definitely open for business and a visit to the Pearl District or Silk District confirms what all of us already know—it’s hard to compete with goods manufactured in China at a fraction of what they would cost in the USA (or anywhere else for that matter).

It is abundantly clear we Americans need to learn more about China—its culture, politics, and most importantly, the aspirations of its people. I see fine opportunities here to inform and educate not just U. S. state legislative leaders and business leaders but, equally, our Chinese counterparts.

Good things happen when people sit down and talk and share experiences and ideas. I am proud SLLF will be playing a role in bringing our peoples together and I have no doubt that through our future programs, the Chinese will come to admire and respect Americans just as we will come to recognize how much common ground we share with these noble people.