As APEC Launches, the Bay Area and the Historic Klamath Take Center Stage
As Presidents Biden and Xi Jinping arrived in San Francisco this week for an historic gathering of Asia Pacific leaders, the Bay Area Council launched its own APEC Meets Silicon Valley and California aboard the historic Klamath. Presented by Sutter Health, the weeklong event is convening top business, government and academic leaders, as well as foreign ministers and other foreign government representatives, to discuss and share insights on a wide range of critical topics that align with many of the issues being addressed by Biden, Xi and the 19 other heads of state participating in APEC.
The Council’s APEC summit opened Monday (Nov. 13) with an evening reception the Council co-hosted with Rep. Eric Swalwell on the Klamath’s roof top deck overlooking the city skyline. With hundreds attending, sessions continued Tuesday (Nov. 14) focused on autonomous vehicle technology, healthcare innovation, and emerging technologies in the energy sector.
The day’s highlight was a fireside chat Council CEO Jim Wunderman led with Sutter Health CEO Warner Thomas, who wowed the audience with his insights on the future of healthcare and Sutter’s focus on digital innovation. Council member KTSF, the region’s largest Chinese-language TV station, delivered their nightly newscast from the Klamath’s roof deck. The day concluded with another gorgeous rooftop reception that featured remarks from Japanese Minister of Economic Revitalization & Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) Shindo Yoshitaka. Sessions continue tomorrow (Nov. 16) and the summit concludes on Friday.
