U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker will join a number of events with American business leaders in Seattle, Washington this week, serving as President Obama’s representative for the West Coast portion of Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to the United States. Deputy Secretary Bruce Andrews will also join to participate in select events with U.S. and Chinese business leaders.

On Tuesday, September 22, Secretary Pritzker will attend and give remarks at a gala dinner in honor of President Xi organized by the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, the Washington State Welcoming Committee, and the U.S.-China Business Council.

On Wednesday, September 23, Secretary Pritzker will deliver remarks at a meeting with President Xi as well as U.S. and Chinese CEOs hosted by the Paulson Institute and the China International Trade Promotion Committee (CCPIT). She will also visit Boeing and Microsoft with President Xi.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Bruce Andrews will serve as a panelist at the U.S. China Internet Industry Forum, hosted by Microsoft and the Internet Society of China.

As the agency responsible for deepening America's economic ties around the world, the Department of Commerce leads the Administration's efforts to fulfill President Obama's vision of the U.S.-China commercial relationship. U.S. investment in China last year was over $60 billion, and two-way trade between the countries was more than $600 billion. Nevertheless, the Administration has significant concerns about China's business environment and continues to press for reforms that would bring China in line with a rules-based international economic system.

With this visit by President Xi, the Administration will continue its engagement with China on market-based reforms, to expand opportunities for U.S. companies and workers and address challenges that they face in the world's second largest economy and most populous consumer market.