The American Chamber of Commerce in South China opened its offices at the newly christened AmCham Tower and Conference Center on April 1 in Shunde, a district of Foshan city, Guangdong province.

The ceremony was presided over by US Undersecretary of Commerce for International Trade, Francisco Sanchez and attended by Minister Counselor William Zarit from the US Embassy in China and US Consul-General Jennifer Zimdahl Galt. Also present were consulate officials, leaders from Shunde district, leaders from the Beijiao town and representatives from AmCham members, as well as local chambers and their members with nearby facilities.

The 20th-floor office, which constitutes the first office of a foreign chamber of commerce ever to be established in Shunde, is located in the district's Beijiao town adjacent to a large municipal garden.

Intended to serve AmCham South China member companies operating in Foshan, the new Conference and Service Center is equipped with state-of-the-art telecommunications equipment, including a simultaneous interpretation system, and it will be staffed full-time by AmCham South China service representatives.

This is another AmCham Tower established after the AmCham South China National Headquarters and Conference Center in Guangzhou.

Dedicated by US Ambassador Gary Locke, the tower is located in Guangzhou's Pazhou area and includes a modern auditorium with 160 seats as well as separate conference rooms fully equipped with the latest telecommunications and interactive technology. It symbolizes the substance and vitality of the US-China trade relationship, said AmCham officials.

zhuanti@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 09/08/2013 page14)