The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will come to order. Welcome everyone, good morning. We will have senators participating both live and virtually. Since it is difficul the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will come to order. We will have senators participating live then virtually as a result of that its difficult to determine to go in ty, seniority and we both come three witnesses the assistant secretary of state and the bureau official for the European Eurasian Affairs and Principal Deputy assistant for western hemisphere fears. We appreciate you being here. We will be talking about china obviously that presents us with manyy challenges and opportunities. There has been a lot of legislation introduced and there is a bill we introduced earlier this year to bring together as many as possible so the minority introduced ase bill senator schumer is the lead sponsor but this is not a partisan issue that is an American Issue. When i put the bill togetheren originally come i did so to
End and a Pacific Region and they also discuss china handling of coronavirus pandemic. This is just over two hours. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will come to order. Welcome everyone, good morning. We will have senators participating both live and virtually. Since it is difficult to figure out when they showed up virtually, we will go on seniority. If that is agreeable with everyone, that is what we will do. Today, we welcome three witnesses to talk with us. Julie chung is here. We appreciate you all being here this morning. Will be talking about china presents us with many challenges. Opportunities as well but right now, challenges. There has been a lot of legislation introduced as far as china is concerned. There was a bill that we introduced earlier this year. That as early as today or yesterday, the minority introduced a bill of which senator schumer is the lead sponsor of the bill. In any event, this is not a partisan issue. This is an american issue. When i put the bill
America. This is just over two hours. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will come to order. Welcome everyone and good morning. Senatorsing to have participating both live and virtually. Since it is difficult to determine when they showed up virtually, we will go on seniority. If that is agreeable, that is what we will do. Three we welcome witnesses. David stillwell, secretary of state for east asia and pacific affairs. The senior pacific official. Assistant to pity secretary for western affairs. Today, of course, we are going to be talking about china. Obviously, china presents us with many challenges. With opportunities also. Right now, challenges. Ofre has been a lot legislation introduced as far as china is concerned. Bill we introduced earlier that tries to bring together as many as possible. I am told as recently as today or yesterday, the minority introduced a bill of which senator schumer is the lead sponsor, i am told. In any event, this is not a partisan issue. This is an
Disinformation is a major topic we need to discuss. We need to share our experiences in dealing with china. A forum where we can review all aspects of the chinese presence in europe, globally, and how we deal with that. They plan to kick this off. We are looking for a date in the near future. Trying to do scheduling. I think we are resigned to the fact that this may have to be virtual. Step in person. Just given the pandemic requirements. The deputy secretary has agreed to participate in a number of conversations. Directors of all the Member States will gather and have this on their agenda. The german presidency. That is an opportunity for Member States to engage. At both member state experiences and overall approach. I hope we can kick this off. We can see this as a longterm project. So we can really Exchange Ideas and experiences. Thank you. I dont think anyone would disagree that this will be a long project. As you know, i and members of introducettee legislation to strengthen ameri
Help pay for needy social spending and poverty reduction, thats important. But also as a very important part of improving governments and combatting corruption, you dont want to face a culture where every time you meet the tan tax man, youre having a long haggle as to how much of your tax payment will go to him or her and how much will go to the treasury. Youre wasting time negotiating with the tax man, you should be negotiating with your customers and suppliers. So there is a twofold impact there. Let me just follow up on that. For those of us who rely on the newspapers and television to inform ourselves of developments, there were these abiding images of pallets of hard currency being exported every day out of cabo to buy. Has that stopped . Because if there is a leakage, and if the money is spent within the country, then even then the economy would profit from it even if it didnt go through the filter of government. Some might think thats not a bad thing. But has there been enough d