Group photo of on-site guests with (some) attendees
By: Elena Mart
Lake Forest, CA – August 18, 2024 – The inaugural Sino-American Symposium on Sustainable Development, convened by the Youth Entrepreneur Business Alliance (YEBA), was successfully held in Lake Forest, California. This seminal event drew hundreds of prominent government officials, business magnates, entrepreneurial innovators, and investors from both China and the United States, who convened to deliberate on the future of the green economy and sustainable development strategies. The symposium facilitated high-level networking and explored pressing issues in environmental technology and sustainable business models.
This significant gathering signaled a new era of collaboration between the U.S. and China in sustainable development. The event was masterfully hosted by renowned American presenter, Olivia Li, whose facilitation skills were highly lauded by participants.
During the opening address, Zhihao Dong, Co-Chair of the Youth Entrepreneur Business Alliance, highlighted the pivotal role of U.S.-China collaboration in driving global sustainability. “This symposium marks a significant step in our ongoing efforts to catalyze innovation and collaboration between the youth of China and the United States,” Dong remarked. “In a world of accelerating environmental changes, the collaboration between our two nations is more critical than ever. Today’s conference serves as both a high-level platform for idea exchange and a forge for deeper cooperative ties and a shared vision for the future.”
Host Organization: Zhihao Dong, Co-Chair of the Youth Entrepreneur Business Alliance
California State Treasurer Fiona Ma and Assemblyman Mike Fong both sent representatives to speak at the event, offering their warm congratulations on the symposium’s success. Their speeches underscored the government’s commitment to supporting the green economy and sustainable innovation. Additionally, Farrah Khan, Mayor of Irvine; Benjamin Yu, Council Member of Lake Forest City; and Yvonne Yiu, Council Member of Monterey City, also delivered remarks, expressing their support and anticipation for ongoing collaboration.
A consortium of influential organizations including the US Overseas Student Union, Southwest U.S. Chinese Students and Scholars Association, US Zhejiang General Chamber of Commerce Youth Committee, LaShine Law Office, Han Education, the New Energy Intelligence Bureau, Keppi Beauty, Reverse Energy Solutions, and the Interlink Club co-sponsored the event.
The symposium featured a series of expert talks from industry leaders. Yen T. Yeh, Executive Director of the Volta Foundation, emphasized the potential for U.S.-China collaboration in the battery industry, focusing on the necessity for resilient supply chains and enhanced academic-industrial ties. Huzaifa Muhammad, Co-Founder and CEO of ChargeWheel, spoke on optimizing grid performance through software and battery technology integration, underscoring the importance of renewable energy. Hamilton Perkins, Founder and President of Hamilton Perkins Collection, discussed transforming waste into fashion products, advocating for sustainability in the fashion sector. Joey Pham, Founder and CEO of Eorte Brand, detailed their efforts in minimizing hotel linen waste through a closed-loop system, stressing the significance of U.S.-China cooperation in the hospitality industry amid cultural market differences.
The successful convening of the first Sino-American Symposium on Sustainable Development not only reinforced U.S.-China exchanges in environmental and green technology fields but also laid a solid foundation for future cooperation on sustainable development strategies. Participants widely agreed that such high-level dialogues are crucial in effectively advancing global green economic development and creating more opportunities for collaboration and growth for the younger generation in both countries.
The symposium concluded with closing remarks from Chao Hu, Co-Chair of the Youth Entrepreneur Business Alliance, who summarized the conference outcomes and expressed optimism about future collaborations. “We are eager to deepen our partnerships not only in environmental spheres but across broader economic and social development sectors with our U.S.-China counterparts,” Hu stated.
Host Organization: Chao Hu, Co-Chair of the Youth Entrepreneur Business Alliance
The event’s successful execution underscores the leadership role of the U.S. and China in driving global green development and establishes a benchmark for future international collaborations. Moving forward, the two nations are poised to further strengthen their cooperation, collaboratively addressing global environmental challenges and contributing significant insights and efforts towards global sustainable development.
Published by: Martin De Juan
