Sybase CEO Chen: Bilateral Investment Treaties Are Essential To the Future Of U.S. Innovation
This limbo is what I fear could happen with the U.S.-China BIT.
First started in June 2008, both sides promised last November to “expedite” negotiations.
Which is why observers eagerly watched the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue meeting in Beijing this May for signs of progress.
The outcome was not encouraging.
Both sides “reaffirmed their commitment to the ongoing BIT negotiations” but otherwise said nothing. In the meantime, how many more situations like Huawei-Motorola or Coca-Cola-Huiyuan Juice will we have?
The pace of commerce is fast. The pace of innovation is even faster. A U.S.-China BIT would bring transparency to the black box process that arbitrarily quashes international business deals and creates a climate of fear for innovative companies seeking to reach out and partner with their international brothers. Opening doors, not shutting them, is the key to maintaining our competitiveness. And that’s what BITs provide.
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John Chen has served as chairman, chief executive officer and president of Sybase, Inc. since 1998. Under his leadership, Sybase has become the recognized industry leader in enterprise mobility infrastructure. In addition, the company has significantly strengthened its position in data management, and has a long track record of increasing revenue and profitability. In acknowledging his business leadership, Forbes magazine named Mr. Chen one of the Top 25 Notable Chinese-Americans in Business. He was named 2007 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in Northern California.
Mr. Chen is actively involved in international relations. He has testified before Congress on U.S.–China trade relations. In 2005, U.S. President George W. Bush appointed him to serve on the President’s Export Council. In 2006, he was appointed co-chair of the Secure Borders and Open Doors Advisory Committee. In addition, Mr. Chen has been a longtime member of the Committee of 100 and currently serves as its chairman. In recognition of his leadership in building U.S.-Asia relations, he received awards from the US-Asia Institute in 2009 and California-Asia Business Council in 2007.
Sybase is an SAP company
