On Thursday (Nov 13, 2025), some 800 guests packed a downtown Chicago venue for the 9th annual gala of the China General Chamber of Commerce Chicago (CGCC Chicago). Under the vibey theme “Driving Forward Together,” business and political figures from the Chinese mainland and the U.S. mixed, mingled, and mapped out new growth in agriculture and artificial intelligence (AI) 🤖🌾.
In a video keynote, Chinese Ambassador to the U.S. Xie Feng highlighted the recent Busan meet-up between President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump – calling it a game-changer that “injects confidence into both countries and the world.” He also pointed to the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China's fourth plenary session, which laid out the next Five-Year Plan blueprint, opening broader doors for Sino-U.S. business collaborations.
Numbers speak volumes: over 7,000 Chinese-invested companies currently operate in the U.S., while around 80,000 American businesses have stakes in the Chinese mainland. CGCC's members alone have pumped $140 billion into the U.S., supporting 1 million+ jobs, and U.S. firms have invested $1.2 trillion in the Chinese mainland 🙌.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson gave a shout-out to Chinese investment for creating jobs and boosting tech innovation—calling it a win for all of our respective communities. He stressed that sustainable growth and tech exchange thrive when both sides team up.
CGCC Chicago Chairman Ni Pin wrapped up by urging everyone to keep driving innovation and creativity side by side for shared prosperity 🌏✨.
CGCC Chicago is a nonprofit representing Chinese mainland firms in nine Midwest states.
Reference(s):
Chinese, U.S. business communities call for more cooperation growth
cgtn.com
