The US-China Business Council (USCBC) on Wednesday announced the election of Ford Motor Co CEO Mark Fields as USCBC chairman.

"I am delighted with the election of Mark Fields and the other outstanding officers and board members selected by the membership," USCBC President John Frisbie said. "USCBC is privileged to have a board consisting of many of America's best business leaders."

"The United States has a significant economic interest in our relationship with China - much more than we did five years ago or 10 years ago," Frisbie said. "A back-of-the-envelope calculation by USCBC estimates that China currently is at least a $350 billion market for American companies - and it should probably be more than that."

Frisbie said that "under Mark's leadership, USCBC will continue to expand business opportunities and knock down barriers so that American companies can make the most of cooperation between the world's two largest economies".

"Since 1973, the US-China Business Council has been a leader in building commercial relations with China," Fields said. "More and more American companies are selling a wide array of goods and services in China. I look forward to serving as chair of this important organization as we work with government and business leaders in both nations to strengthen commercial ties and maximize growth opportunities."

Frisbie also announced the election of five other officers and eight board members: Vice-Chairman Robert A. Iger, chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Co; Vice-Chairman Paul D. Conway, vice-chairman, Cargill Inc; Vice-Chairwoman Indra Nooyi, chairman and CEO, PepsiCo; Secretary-Treasurer Keith E. Williams, president and CEO, UL LLC; and Counsel Andrew W. Shoyer, partner, Sidley Austin LLP.

New board members are Barbara H. Franklin, president and CEO, Barbara Franklin Enterprises; Muhtar Kent, chairman and CEO, Coca-Cola Co; James E. Lillie, chief executive officer, Jarden Corp; Thomas J. Lynch, chairman and CEO, TE Connectivity; Doug McMillon, president and CEO, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc; Dennis A. Muilenburg, vice-chairman, president and chief operating officer, Boeing Co; Peter Oosterveer, chief operating officer, Fluor Corp; Miles D. White, chairman and CEO, Abbott; and Darren Woods, senior vice-president, Exxon Mobil Corp.

(China Daily USA 06/04/2015 page3)