Regardless of what is going on in Washington, business communities across North Carolina want to continue to grow their business relations with China. Since 2013, Chinese investment in North Carolina has totaled $1.2 billion, creating more than 3,000 jobs. In 2001 China became a member of WTO which engaged China with the international business community. Ryan Nance, business development director at the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, said that regardless of what happens in Washington, most business people focus on international markets to be successful. "North Carolina opened an office in Hong Kong 25 years ago and trade with China means a lot to us.