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Debate Focuses on China, Economy

Publish Date: Friday, November 19, 2010

Debate Focuses on China, Economy

A debate held Wednesday night among four experts in business and academia promoted discussion about economic relations between the U.S. and China.

The debate was held at the International Center and was sponsored by the Broad China Business Society, or BCBS, a student-run organization supported by the Eli Broad College of Business, which promotes diversity and international involvement in China.

Four panelists, including MSU’s A.J. Pasant professor of economics and finance Dr. Richard Baillie, MSU graduate student Hon Foong Cheah and two representatives from China, discussed issues such as Chinese currency manipulation, media representation of U.S.-China economic relations and the effect a change in these relations would have on businesses in Michigan and the U.S.

Hu Li, a business association department associate professor at Nanjing University Business School in China, said he is passionate about the issues that were discussed at the debate and was glad to take part. He said it was good to see students interested in U.S.-China relations, a topic that directly affects the U.S.

“I know the U.S. faces very serious questions — high unemployment, trade deficit — I feel for them,” Li said.

International relations senior and BCBS vice president Charles Eveslage said BCBS members felt the debate was important because the topic is relevant and is an issue that already is affecting the economy as a whole and continues to change rapidly.

“We’re at the point in history right now where (U.S.-China economic relations) could turn sour or get better because the countries have such a large share of the GDP,” Eveslage said.

Computer science junior Zuhao Chen said the topic especially interested him because it specifically pertains to his career goals. He said this was the main reason he went to the debate.

“I want to start a company to do trading between China and the U.S., so I want to know about the relations between (the two countries),” Chen said.

Supply chain management senior Charlie Dakin, president of BCBS, said the event and BCBS as a whole benefited the student body because it provided an opportunity for Chinese and American MSU students to bond over topics they had a mutual interest in.

“(Some) Chinese students are fairly removed from MSU — they’re not very involved with the entire community. On the other side, Americans aren’t making that much effort to meet these people,” Dakin said. “I think one of the best things we do really is getting Chinese and Americans together — building friendships and working together.”
Originally Published: 11/17/10 9:42pm

Source: http://www.statenews.com/index.php/article/2010/11/debate_focuses_on_china_economy