Public Policy Currents

Professor Tours China with Virginia Trade Mission

When Stuart Malawer, professor of law and international trade, accepted an invitation to participate in Virginia Gov. Mark W. Warner’s China Trade Mission last June, he expected to witness a country bursting with growth. Since China’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), the country has become the world’s biggest recipient of foreign direct investment, attained the world’s highest economic growth rate and developed a surging demand for imports. Despite the obvious changes, Malawer thought he’d find the land familiar because he had visited it in 2000.

But Malawer was startled by the country’s transformation. For example, during his first visit he could hardly walk across a particular four-lane road in Beijing without getting run over by a bicycle. However, when the trade commission’s bus rode along the same street, he was shocked at the differences. “I hardly saw a bicycle. All I saw were cars,” he said about the area that now has a multi-lane highway and large park. The dramatic changes in the landscape reflect the rapid development and growth occurring throughout China’s cities, Malawer said. The professor also was impressed by the country’s construction boom, especially its modern factories and expansive port facilities.

Gov. Warner organized the two-week trade mission to Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai and Ningbo to promote Virginia exports and to show participants the wide range of public and private sector business opportunities in China. “Asia holds exciting opportunities for Virginia's agriculture and technology sectors,” Gov. Warner said in a press release. “I hope we can create new and strong partnerships that will bring new jobs to our Commonwealth and also open up new export opportunities for Virginia-based companies.”

Malawer was among 50 people selected for the mission, which included high-ranking government officials and business leaders. The commission met with Chinese entrepreneurs and government officials, and visited factories, port facilities and warehouses. The highlight of the trip occurred when Gov. Warner signed the sister-state agreement with the Province of Fujian, which is located on China’s southeastern coast, Malawer said.

“The trip signifies Virginia's renewed commitment to global trade as a critical means of enhancing the Commonwealth's economy,” Malawer said. An emphasis on individual rights and an entrepreneurial spirit will help China and Virginia build greater wealth and prosperity, Malawer added.

“States have a cardinal responsibility to further the economic development of their economies,” Malawer said. “The Virginia trade mission by the Governor follows trade missions of many other governors in the United States. States that do not do this are destined to fail as effective players in today's global economy.”

While in China the Governor spoke many times about the great promise of global trade, the need for China to further develop the rule of law, and for it to comply with its WTO commitments, Malawer said. “Now that the bitter tax and budgetary disputes of the last few years are behind us, it is good news that Gov. Warner is focusing on global trade,” he said.