Thomson Reuters commits to bolstering ties with China

The pledge was delivered at a visit to Thomson Reuters headquarters in New York by China’s consul-general in the city, Sun Guoxiang, pictured, according to a recent announcement. The visit was on 6 February but the internal announcement seen by The Baron was issued only on 15 March.

Attending with Smith were Shanker Ramamurthy, president of global growth and operations, and Reuters News deputy editor-in-chief Paul Ingrassia.

Smith, the announcement said, “provided a brief overview of Thomson Reuters history, with a special focus on our contributions to the development of the Chinese market and commitment to being a responsible corporate citizen in Chinese society. He emphasized Thomson Reuters relationship with China, and highlighted our commitment to bolstering cooperation and strengthening economic ties.”

He also discussed with Sun the company’s “belief in the power of technological innovation and science to creating sustainable and robust economies.”

The Chinese diplomat “expressed his appreciation to Thomson Reuters for our role in supporting China’s economic development, and shared his wishes to form positive and dynamic bilateral relations between China and the U.S.,” according to the announcement.

It concluded: “The visit marks a positive step in continuing to open and enhance our relationship with China at a crucial juncture immediately following the U.S. presidential election and China’s recent political leadership change. The meeting also will help GGO forge new channels of communication with the Chinese government, which are expected to grow and deepen in the future.”

The announcement did not say whether Thomson Reuters or the ambassador had initiated the meeting. ■