U.S. Ambassador to Japan visits Valley, highlighting important relationship
(Clockwise) United States Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, Jack McCain of Blue Sky Vantage, PCFR Executive Director Tina Waddington, and Arizona State University Senior Vice President and Secretary Dr. Christine Wilkinson discussed close relations with our Asian ally during “Transition & Transformation: The Rise of a New Japan” Saturday at the Global Ambassador Hotel in Phoenix.
The Valley welcomed the U.S. Ambassador to Japan and former White House Chief-of-Staff Rahm Emanuel Saturday for a special presentation – Transition & Transformation: The Rise of a New Japan – another indication of the importance of Arizona's thriving semiconductor and defense industries to top domestic leaders and the world's third largest economy.
In his signature style that is both authoritative and accessible, Emanuel received rounds of thunderous applause and a standing ovation capping two hours of focus on the Land of the Rising Sun, the United States' most important ally in Asia and the centerpiece of Washington's multi-lateral strategy to contain and manage relations across the region.
The gathering was hosted by the Phoenix Committee on Foreign Relations with Executive Director Tina Waddington welcoming guests at the new Global Ambassador Hotel in Phoenix. Ms. Waddington noted the many state legislators and visiting foreign dignitaries in the audience, which included local business leaders like Skysong developer Sharon Harper, Simer and Vicki Mayo of Valor Global, ASU's James O'Brien, among many others.
“The Ambassador's visit continues what we've seen the past several years with engagement by the President, First Lady, Vice President and others that Arizona is vitally important to our national interests on many levels,” says MAP Strategies Group co-founder Mark Nothaft, who attended Saturday's event. “The reshoring and advancement of the semiconductor industry at both Intel and TSMC and their related suppliers, the accessibility of top young talent from Arizona State University, our class-leading defense and space industries, Arizona's flourishing Asian community, all contribute to a dynamic and influential economic, cultural and political landscape.”
“A new Arizona is taking shape well beyond our original Five Cs.”
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego delivered opening remarks, noting the launch of a City of Phoenix economic cooperation office in Japan and encouraging guests to attend the city's popular Matsuri Festival each February.
Dr. Christine Wilkinson, who is Japanese-American and Senior Vice President and Secretary at Arizona State University, introduced Ambassador Emanuel and conveyed to the many national and international dignitaries in attendance that ASU is widely considered one of the most innovative and forward-looking universities in the world, known for generating patents for industry-changing technologies.
Finally, Jack McCain, CEO of Blue Sky Vantage and son of Arizona's long-time U.S. Senator John McCain, moderated a “fireside chat,” where Emanuel discussed many logistical, economic, social and strategic areas of cooperation between the United States and Japan, and among other Asian nations.
The Phoenix Committee on Foreign Relations is Arizona's premier foreign affairs organization, which also hosts the annual International State of the State. The event with Ambassador Emanuel was also presented by the McCain Institute and the Thunderbird School of International Management, both affiliates of Arizona State University.