I have been emailing my Senator’s office, Arlen Specter, since I first learned of the near certainty of the US absence at the upcoming 2010 World Expo. His office has told me the 111th Congress would have a look at it. Well I have decided to go straight to the top. Let’s see how open and transparent this new administration is, do they practice what they preach? You can see below the message I sent to Barack Obama on day one of his administration. Let’s see if he responds. Keeping my fingers crossed…

As an American entrepreneur in China for four years, my livelihood is very much tied to the dynamic, and often shaky, Sino-US relationship. Something that will leave a black eye to kick off the Obama Administration with the Chinese will be our lack of participation in the Shanghai 2010 World Expo. This expo will be the highest attended world expo in history, with more than seventy million Chinese and expatriates expected to attend. The Federal Government, by an act of Congress in 1991, cannot fund US participation in World Expos. If there is ever a place to kill two birds with one stone, then here it is looking the administration straight in the face. You can help the endeavoring entrepreneurs and business managers in China while simultaneously shifting away from the Bush Administration policy of cold bully tactics with the Chinese. This is your chance to step forward with the Chinese and make the first gesture of goodwill and cooperation. It won’t hurt your standing with the regional party head Xi Jinping, who is most likely to become the next President of China.

There are literally on days left for an executive order. I have already contacted Senator Arlen Specter’s office on this matter, who have given me a positive response with their desire to work on this, but nothing has moved forward. “On this day” “we can” bring change to an extremely pivotal diplomatic relationship. Create the legislation, free up $10-15mil USD, and let’s change US-SIno relations today, not tomorrow.

There is an urgent cry from US business owners and architects in China to get Congrees and the new administration on board, and on board quickly. There have yet to be only limited plans drawn up for the US pavilion, and they must be done so immediately, but unforutnately the funding will have to come from an act of Congress. Click this link to find out more. Ground must be broken by mid-February. Action is needed now, because the Bush Administration and the 110th Congress dropped the ball on this small yet critical issue.