Shanghai announced on its official WeChat account that on March 22, Chen Jining, Secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Party Committee, met with Howard Schultz, founder of Starbucks, honorary chairman of the board of directors, and founder of the Schultz Foundation in the United States.
Chen Jining introduced the economic and social development of Shanghai and the construction of an international consumer center city. He said that the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China had mapped out a grand blueprint for Chinese path to modernization. The starting point and foothold of all our work is to enable the people to live a better life. Starbucks is a globally renowned professional coffee roaster and retailer. We welcome opportunities for market upgrading, industrial upgrading, and consumer upgrading. We will continue to deepen our presence in Shanghai, expand our layout, strengthen research and innovation in Shanghai, actively introduce technical services, and jointly lead the consumer trend. To better leverage the role of bridges and links, to promote economic and trade cooperation between China and the United States, deepen cultural exchanges, and create a platform and conditions for more American youth to come to China for exchange and learning. We will make every effort to create a better environment, provide high-quality services, optimize policy measures, support the development of enterprises in Shanghai, and facilitate personnel exchanges and exchanges.
Howard Schultz said that Starbucks has more stores in Shanghai than any other city in the world, and he is proud of the achievements Starbucks has made in China. The deeper one understands Shanghai, the more they admire the development achievements of this city, and the more they strengthen their confidence and determination to deeply cultivate Shanghai and expand their layout. A healthy and stable US China relationship is beneficial to both countries, the world, and businesses. We are willing to leverage our own advantages and contribute more to promoting US China economic and trade cooperation and cultural exchanges.
City leader Li Zheng attended the meeting.