Editorial: East Meets West in Monroeville - WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.

Editorial: East Meets West in Monroeville

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By Collin R. Gaston - bio | email

  • Editorials

  • Tuesday, May 21 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-21 23:20:08 GMT
    The horrific tornadoes that ripped through Oklahoma this week bring back all too familiar memories for Alabamians as memories of April 27, 2011 are still fresh in many minds. When Alabamians were in need
    The horrific tornadoes that ripped through Oklahoma this week bring back all too familiar memories for Alabamians as memories of April 27, 2011 are still fresh in many minds. When Alabamians were in need

  • Thursday, May 16 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-16 23:20:04 GMT
    In my editorial on Tuesday I chided our legislators for being the last state to pass a no-brainer  bill legalizing home brewing.  Today I want to challenge them to be one of the first states to pass another no-brainer;
    In my editorial on Tuesday I chided our legislators for being the last state to pass a no-brainer  bill legalizing home brewing.  Today I want to challenge them to be one of the first states to pass another no-brainer;

  • Tuesday, May 14 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-14 23:20:07 GMT
    Kudos, or perhaps, cheers to the Alabama Legislature for passing HB9, the home brewing bill. Legalized home brewing may not be up there with education reform or prison funding, but it was overdue. 
    Kudos, or perhaps, cheers to the Alabama Legislature for passing HB9, the home brewing bill. Legalized home brewing may not be up there with education reform or prison funding, but it was overdue. 
    •   
MONROEVILLE, AL (WSFA) -

300 senior level executives, business leaders, government officials and community leaders from Alabama and China are set to come together this week in a groundbreaking 2-day symposium in Monroeville, Alabama.  That's right Monroeville, Alabama – home of the Pulitzer prize-winning author of "To Kill a Mockingbird" Harper Lee. 

The goal of this historical symposium is to create a clearinghouse of constructive ideas between our two countries, clear up misconceptions and create a roadmap that Chinese companies can use to develop operations in Alabama.

China currently has $4 trillion dollars in reserve and has invested more than $200 billion overseas in the last 5 years.  The U.S. has benefitted from these Chinese business investments to the tune of $28 billion but that's only 14% of the overall amount.  This symposium aspires to be the catalyst that drives Chinese investments in Alabama, creates jobs and aligns the world's superpowers through reciprocal business relationships and not the failed governmental attempts of the past. 

We are confident and excited that this event will be just the beginning of our countries coming together to gain an enlightened understanding of each other.  We look forward to all of the Chinese business leaders coming back very soon and when you do – a cold glass of sweet tea and dedicated Alabama work force will be waiting on you!

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