BAY AREA COUNCIL WELCOMES TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT

Extreme weather could not hold back Oakland Mayor-Elect Libby Schaaf, Chinese Consulate Economic Counselor Xia Xiang, Bay Area Council President and CEO Jim Wunderman and other regional leaders from welcoming Tsinghua University President Chen Jining to the Bay Area on Wednesday (Dec. 10). President Chen’s arrival was much anticipated: Tsinghua University is considered one of the world’s most prestigious universities, graduating many of China’s most powerful and influential leaders, including current Chinese President Xi Jinping.  The Bay Area is home to one of Tsinghua’s largest alumni bases in the world. In meetings the Bay Area Council arranged, President Chen spoke separately with Governor Jerry Brown and California Air Resources Board Chair Mary Nichols about California’s efforts to address climate change.

President Chen and his delegates were received with fanfare at a warm and cheerful reception hosted by new Bay Area Council member Prologis, the leading owner, operator and developer of industrial real estate across Asia, Europe, and the Americas.  Prologis is one of Fortune Magazine’s most admired companies of 2014 and has been named one of the top 100 most sustainable companies in the world.  For more information about the Bay Area Council’s work in China, please contact Chief of Global Initiatives Del Christensen.