“The future of the United States and China are inextricably linked and have major implications for California’s economic future,” said Jim Wunderman, President and CEO of the Bay Area Council. “California as the U.S. gateway to the Pacific Rim is one of the nation’s top trading partners with China and looks to China as a vital partner in growing the state’s exports and creating opportunities for investment. Establishing free and open trade between our two countries can create jobs and lead to economic growth for decades to come.”

Obama’s meeting with Xi comes a little over a month after the Bay Area Council, in its role operating the California-China Office of Trade and Investment, organized a trade and investment mission to China led by Governor Jerry Brown. The eight-day trip included more than 90 top business, economic development and government leaders, made stops in four cities and announced a series of trade and investment deals totaling billions of dollars. The visit also included the official opening of California’s first trade office in China in 10 years and meetings with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and many other top government officials.

Growing trade and investment with China for years has been a lead priority for the Bay Area Council, which operates its own offices in Shanghai and Hangzhou.

In advance of tomorrow’s summit, Bay Area Council President and CEO Jim Wunderman has authored an article calling for the two world leaders to include among their discussion points the negotiation of a formal free trade agreement between the U.S. and China.

Read Jim Wunderman’s article promoting a U.S.-China free trade agreement.

Leon Panetta keynote address

Leon Panetta Q&A with Dignity Health CEO Lloyd Dean

Gov. Jerry Brown in conversation with BAC Chair Janet Lamkin

The Governor talks about his new school funding plan and his recent trade mission to China, among other topics.

Jed York and Larry Baer on The Business of Winning

The two CEOs give their insights on the Bay Area’s winning ways and how we sustain it.

Social media driving political change

Tech blogger and entrepreneur Michael Arrington leads a talk with angel investor Ron Conway, musician MC Hammer and former Google products manager Hunter Walk.

Powering California’s Economy

Sen. Alex Padilla talks energy and innovation with PG&E executive Geisha Williams, Echelon CEO Ron Sege and Enphase Energy CEO Paul Nahi.

Healthcare: A Tectonic Shift

Blue Shield of California CEO Paul Markovich joins Safeway’s Kent Bradley, Dignity Health’s Michael Blaszyk and Wells Fargo’s Keith Grundy for a conversation on the coming health care changes.

See a gallery of photos from 2013 Outlook Conference.

During the discussion and in remarks beforehand, Panetta shared colorful insights on the dramatic events that brought Osama bin Laden to justice. He talked about the differences in style between Presidents Clinton and Obama, bemoaned the “mindless” sequestration and the destructive partisanship gripping DC, and related the lessons he learned from his immigrant father in expressing his optimism for the transcendent spirit of Americans to overcome challenges. Panetta was the closing keynote of an afternoon of substantive, entertaining and informative discussions on social media, health care, energy and Bay Area professional sports.

Governor Jerry Brown was another highlight of the afternoon, engaging with Bay Area Council Chair and Bank of America California State President Janet Lamkin in a lively conversation that delved into education, trade with China and the recent trip he made there with a delegation organized by the Bay Area Council, climate change and the state’s fiscal health.

Sports fans were enthralled to hear from SF Giants President and CEO Larry Baer and SF 49ers President and CEO Jed York, who likened the region’s booming sports industry to the “Renaissance of Venice.” There were rousing cheers at the mention of the Bay Area being named this week to host Super Bowl L in 2016 at the 49ers’ new Levi’s Stadium. And Daniel Lurie, Co-chair of the Super Bowl Bid Committee on which Bay Area Council President and CEO Jim Wunderman served, made a surprise visit on stage to hail the victory.

Sen. Alex Padilla, Chair of the Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee, moderated a conversation with PG&E executive Geisha Williams, Echelon CEO Ron Sege and Enphase Energy CEO Paul Nahi about the challenges confronting California’s energy future. And Blue Shield of California CEO Paul Markovich led off a fascinating discussion with Dignity Health executive Michael Blaszyk, Safeway Chief Medical Officer Kent Bradley and Wells Fargo Bank healthcare finances executive Keith Grundy.

The Bay Area Council extends its thanks to the many sponsors and supporters of the conference, with special thanks to Dignity Health and Lloyd Dean for serving as the Presenting Visionary Sponsor. Thanks also to Wells Fargo Bank for its major support and hosting the two networking breaks. For a complete list of supporters, please visit 2013 Outlook Conference presented by Dignity Health.

And stay tuned for links to videos of the discussions, including a penetrating conversation with SV Angel Senior Advisor Ron Conway, MC Hammer, tech blogger Michael Arrington and former Google executive Hunter Walk on the role of social media in driving political change. You’re sure to enjoy Arrington pressing Hammer and Conway on their political aspirations.

Three bills the Bay Area Council supports that will allow healthcare professionals such as optometrists and pharmacists to provide some primary care services for patients were advanced unanimously to the Senate Floor. A coalition led by the Bay Area Council and member company Safeway also garnered a big win for the business community as we successfully defeated a bill that would have banned the use by employers of wellness incentive programs. Though we are headed in a positive direction, there is still a tremendous amount of work to be done. To engage in our healthcare policy work or to attend an upcoming information session on post-ACA insurance options for employers, contact Senior Policy Advisor Micah Weinberg

“California’s economy cannot afford to leave some children behind,” said Jim Wunderman, President and CEO of the Bay Area Council. “Under the Governor’s leadership, the devastating education budget cuts have stopped. Looking forward, Governor Brown has a vision for school funding that corrects inequities, reduces complex regulations, and engages local communities. We applaud the Governor’s vision and commitment to providing all children a good education.”

As the Governor has proposed it, the Local Control Funding Formula sets a per pupil funding “base” target that begins to restore the cuts made in recent years. Supplemental funding is added for students who are English learners, low income or in foster care. An additional grant is provided to districts with 50 percent or more students in these categories.

The proposal provides for a gradual transition over seven years to the new formula as funding grows. All districts will gain spending flexibility and must engage the community in developing an accountability plan.

Our work as part of a statewide coalition to reform CEQA gained traction this week when a bill authored by Sen. Steinberg passed out of the Senate Environmental Quality Committee. Thank you to Sen. Steinberg for his leadership on this issue. The Bay Area Council was among the groups testifying in favor of SB 731, and we will remain closely engaged in the coming debate over its final language. To engage in our CEQA reform work, contact Government Relations Vice President Matt Regan.

On the healthcare front, the Bay Area Council joined with a broad coalition of providers and health plans to testify in support of three bills authored by Sen. Ed Hernandez – SB 491, 492 and 493 – that seek to expand the scope of practice for non-physician medical providers, such as pharmacists, optometrists and nurse practitioners. All three bills made it out of the Senate Committee on Business, Professions and Economic Development in spite of stiff resistance from opponents.

On Wednesday, we joined members Safeway and SeeChange Health to provide lead testimony in opposition to SB 189, a proposal to limit the use of employer wellness incentive programs. While the bill made it out of committee, the author has taken significant amendments due to the pressure we have applied, and we are confident that we will either stop the bill or transform it into a reasonable measure we can support.  We also testified, alongside Small Business Majority and Bay Area Council members Kaiser Permanente and Blue Shield, in favor of SB 161, which would limit the use of self-insurance by very small businesses.  The trend toward purchasing stop-loss coverage is causing an exodus of employers with younger and healthier employees from traditional coverage, disrupting the market on which all small businesses rely. To engage in our healthcare policy work, contact Senior Policy Advisor Micah Weinberg.

See photos from the day’s events.

Read the Sacramento Day policy briefing book.