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BIO Announces First Chinese American Cabinet Secretary Elaine L. Chao as Keynote Speaker for BIO China International Conference

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Elaine Chao will provide a keynote address at the upcoming inaugural BIO China International Conference on October 12-13 in Shanghai, China</p>

Washington, D.C. and Shanghai, China (September 20, 2011)- The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) is pleased to announce that The Honorable Elaine L. Chao, the 24th United States Secretary of Labor, will provide a keynote address at the BIO China International Conferenceto be held October 12-13 in Shanghai, China.   The event will bring together biotechnology and pharmaceutical leaders to explore business opportunities with life science companies in China, and feature key opinion leaders discussing policy and business issues.
 
“Secretary Chao has been a leader in key U.S. institutions for the past twenty-five years.  She understands well the key role that biotechnology companies play to create high wage, science-led jobs.  Her leadership on crucial issues like competitiveness, and her understanding of the global economy provide her the perfect vantage to serve as this year’s BIO China keynote speaker,” said Jim Greenwood, President & CEO of BIO. 

Elaine L. Chao is the first American woman of Asian descent to be appointed to a President’s Cabinet in our nation’s history.  Having served from 2001-2009, she is the longest tenured Secretary of Labor since World War II, and the only member of President George W. Bush’s original cabinet to have served the entire eight years of his Administration.

In addition to serving in the Bush Cabinet, Secretary Chao has established a career that spans the public, private and non-profit sectors. Her other leadership positions include: President and Chief Executive Officer of United Way of America,  Director of the Peace Corps, Deputy Secretary at the U.S. Department of Transportation, Chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission, Deputy Maritime Administrator and White House Fellow.  Prior to her government service, she was Vice President of Syndications at BankAmerica Capital Markets Group and a banker with Citicorp.

The BIO China International Conference will feature plenary sessions and workshops on health and regulatory issues, intellectual property, business development and vaccines, and global health. The conference also will include company presentations, partnering meeting opportunities, and an Exhibition. The conference will include biopharmaceutical industry leaders from North America, Europe and Asia.

BIO brings to China more than 15 years of experience in organizing international conferences for the biotech industry, including the BIO International Convention, the global event for biotechnology. BIO is renowned for its successful business development, partnering and investor meetings in North America, Europe and Asia. Partnering at this conference will be powered by BIO One-on-One Partnering™, an interactive environment to intelligently search, contact and schedule private meetings with potential partners and investors.

BIO China is organized by BIO and co-organized by Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park. For more information on BIO China, please visit http://www.bio.org/biochina/.