The Los Angeles Post

Committee of 100 Hosts 2025 Annual Conference in Los Angeles, Bringing Together Leaders to Discuss U.S.-China Relations and the Future of Chinese Americans

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LAPost / Los Angeles, CA (April 27, 2025) –  The Committee of 100 , a prestigious organization of Chinese American leaders, held its 2025 Annual Conference and Gala on April 25–26 in Los Angeles, drawing over 600 distinguished guests from across sectors including technology, education, entertainment, law, and public policy. The event served as a powerful platform to celebrate Chinese American achievements while addressing challenges facing the Chinese and broader Asian American communities. Discussions spanned pressing topics such as U.S.-China collaboration, Asian American contributions, artificial intelligence competition, and U.S. trade policies. It also fostered valuable dialogue between emerging leaders and established influencers.

Gary Locke (right), chairman of the Committee of 100, introduces new president Paul Cheung at the opening ceremony (Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)

The conference officially opened on the morning of April 25 with welcoming remarks by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and C100 Chairman and former U.S. Ambassador to China, Gary Locke. Locke introduced the organization’s new president, Paul Cheung, and was joined by C100 founders Oscar Tang and Henry S. Tang, who traveled from New York for the occasion. 

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass delivers a speech at the opening ceremony (Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)

California Attorney General Rob Bonta addressed the daytime session, while Congresswoman Judy Chu delivered the keynote at the gala dinner.

U.S. Congresswoman Judy Chu attended the dinner and delivered a keynote speech (Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)

At the evening gala, renowned Chinese American entrepreneurs Walter Wang, CEO of JM Eagle, and Shirley Wang, founder and CEO of Plastpro, received the Committee of 100 Leadership in Entrepreneurship Award, honoring their excellence in business and philanthropy.

Walter Wang gave a speech at the dinner to express his gratitude for the award (Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)

The first forum of the conference focused on post-disaster recovery and the future of infrastructure development in Los Angeles, following this year’s devastating wildfires. Panelists including L.A. County Supervisor Holly Mitchell, Walter Wang, LAFRA President Chris Stein, and former LADWP GM Martin Adams discussed innovative materials, resilient planning, and the importance of coordinated recovery in building future-ready infrastructure.

The first forum of the annual meeting focused on Los Angeles’ post-disaster reconstruction and future infrastructure development (Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)

This year’s conference theme, “Engage. Empower. Elevate.”, resonated deeply with the event’s location and timing. By choosing fire-impacted Los Angeles as its venue, Committee of 100 paid tribute to the local community’s resilience and spirit of innovation.

Janet Yang presents the Cultural Icon Award to four actresses (Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)

A major cultural highlight of the gala was the Cultural Icon Award presented by Janet Yang—Oscar-winning AMPAS President and executive producer of The Joy Luck Club—to the film’s four lead actresses: Ming-Na Wen, Rosalind Chao, Lauren Tom, and Tamlyn Tomita. As one of the first mainstream Hollywood films to center on Asian American narratives, The Joy Luck Club holds historic and cultural significance.

Lee Soo Man (left), Teddy Zee (right) (Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)

Committee of 100 member and prominent Hollywood producer Teddy Zee moderated a forum titled “The Cultural Forces Shaping Global Music Trends.” K-pop pioneer Lee Soo-man, known as the “Father of Hallyu,” appeared in person to explore the cultural, economic, and strategic drivers behind the global rise of Korean pop music and its expansion into China and global markets.

Walter Wang and Shirley Wang invited representatives from the Los Angeles Fire Department to attend the dinner. (Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)

The conference featured a range of other thought-provoking forums, exploring:

  • Discrimination against Chinese scholars in the U.S.

  • Asian American representation in Hollywood

  • The portrayal of Asian American history in U.S. textbooks

  • Contemporary art as a cultural bridge between China and the U.S.

  • National security and its impact on civil rights

  • The role of storytelling in communication

  • The global impact of AI breakthroughs (e.g., DeepSeek)

  • U.S. tariff policies and their economic implications

A key focus was also placed on cultivating the next generation of Chinese American leaders. Since its launch in 2014, the Next Generation Leaders (NGL) program has grown into a vibrant, mission-driven community of over 200 young professionals from technology, business, the arts, and public affairs. A dedicated NGL forum during the conference created space for mentorship, collaboration, and empowerment.

Texas State Representative Gene Wu, former Texas official Martha Wong, and UC Irvine law professor Robert Chang led an impactful discussion on discriminatory land ownership bills emerging in several states, offering insights into community and legal strategies for combating these proposals.

Oscar Tang (left) and Henry Tang (right), co-founders of the Committee of 100 (Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)

Founded by accomplished Chinese Americans in fields such as politics, business, academia, science, and the arts, the Committee of 100 is a nonprofit committed to advancing the full participation of Chinese Americans in U.S. society and fostering constructive U.S.-China relations. With roughly 150 members, it remains one of the most influential Chinese American organizations in the nation. (By Richard Ren/LAPost)