"It's important, particularly at this time, to remind people that California is open to China, and California wants to be cooperative with China. California wants to continue to have cultural ties and trade ties to China," said Anthony Rendon, speaker of the California State Assembly, on Sept 26. Rendon was among a number of American and Chinese officials, as well as representatives from private and public sectors, who attended a reception last Wednesday. The event, hosted by the Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles, celebrated the 69th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Chau said that trade conflicts not only hurt business people who trade with China, but ultimately hurt the consumers who have to pay higher prices for products they used to be getting at lower prices.