OREANDA-NEWS. September 23, 2015.  Ahead of a state visit to the U.S. by China’s President Xi and Madame Peng, the president of Starbucks China, Belinda Wong, sent the following letter to the company’s 30,000 partners (employees) in China.

Photos and story updates will be added to this post during the visit to Seattle on September 22 and 23.

Dear Partners,

Greetings from Seattle. As you have probably seen in news coverage, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Madame Peng Liyuan will be arriving here in a few hours as the first stop on their U.S. state visit. I am proud to share that Starbucks is one of only a small number of U.S.-based companies that were appointed to the official Welcoming Host Committee.  

I am extremely honored to be here this week on behalf of all you, our 30,000 China partners, to welcome President Xi and more than 1,000 Chinese Government and business delegates. I, along with Howard Schultz and other Starbucks leaders, will be participating in a number of events and meetings over the next few days including the National Banquet Dinner on Tuesday evening welcoming the president.  Howard will also be participating in a CEO Roundtable discussion with President Xi on Wednesday morning. 

These and other meetings will provide us with a significant opportunity to convey the gratitude and responsibility we have to all of you and the communities we serve in China. These conversations will also demonstrate how Starbucks is a different kind of company, a company that aims to lead through the lens of humanity by taking great care of our partners, investing in the communities we serve, and uplifting the spirits of our customers every day.

Jackie Xu, Beijing Kerry Centre Store Manager, is also with me in Seattle, representing you, to welcome, host and ensure the seamless delivery of the unique Starbucks Experience to our distinguished guests from China.

Over the next few days, we will continue to keep you updated on these exciting and important events. I am confident that the Starbucks story, and our passion for the highest quality coffee, will connect our cultures and people across China and the U.S.

Our mission since we opened our first store in Beijing in 1999, and which continues to guide us today, is based on the foundations of love and humanity. I am extremely optimistic about the opportunity ahead for Starbucks China – a bright future that all Starbucks partners and Chinese people can be proud of. 

With warm regards and appreciation,

Belinda Wong

president, Starbucks China