In a previously unreported business trip to China in September 2017, Ron Busby, a powerful ally of Vice President Kamala Harris and president of the U.S. Black Chambers, met with multiple Chinese Communist Party officials. The trip, sponsored by the Chinese government entity in New York, the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China, aimed to facilitate business, investment, technology, and cultural exchanges between New York and China. The New York in China Center, established by John Wang in 2008, served as the official sponsor of the trip.
During the trip, Busby highlighted the importance of collaboration between the United States, Africa, and China for sustainability. His U.S. Black Chambers group has signed Memorandum of Understandings with business leaders in Durban, Morocco, and China. Busby emphasized the need for a relationship between the three continents to bring resources, ingenuity, and creativity to foster growth. Photos from the trip show Busby and the delegation meeting with CCP officials in Beijing, Shanghai, and Xi’an.
One report stated that Busby offered resources from the U.S. Black Chambers to Xi’an in various fields and highlighted his willingness to collaborate. As the president of the U.S. Black Chambers, Busby has leveraged his influence to participate in meetings with top U.S. government officials including President Biden, Vice President Harris, and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. Harris has praised Busby as an “extraordinary leader” and has hosted events to honor Black business leaders in partnership with the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc.
Despite warnings from the U.S. government about groups such as the People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, which Busby met with during the trip, Busby’s participation in meetings with CCP officials may face scrutiny. The Chinese consulates in the U.S., like the one that sponsored Busby’s trip, have been highlighted in reports for engaging in foreign influence operations on behalf of the CCP. Busby and the delegation also met with CCP leaders in Shanghai, with discussions focused on cooperation in various fields such as science, technology, healthcare, and education.
The connections between Busby and China have come to light at a time when Vice President Harris is facing scrutiny over her ties to Governor Tim Walz, who has longstanding connections to China. Despite the lack of responses from Busby, the U.S. Black Chambers, Vice President Harris’ office, and the New York in China Center, the details of Busby’s business trip and interactions with CCP officials raise questions about potential implications for U.S.-China relations and foreign influence operations.
In conclusion, Ron Busby’s business trip to China in 2017, sponsored by Chinese government entities, has brought attention to his connections with CCP officials. His discussions on fostering collaboration between the U.S., Africa, and China, as well as his involvement with the U.S. Black Chambers, have raised questions about foreign influence operations and relations with China. As scrutiny grows, Busby’s ties to China, along with Vice President Harris’ connections to individuals with Chinese ties, may impact discussions on U.S.-China relations and the role of foreign influence in American politics.
