The US-China Transpacific Foundation, a nonprofit that works to strengthen U.S./Chinese ties and promote shared interests between the two countries, has retained government affairs shop Capitol Counsel for help with a cultural exchange program designed to raise public and corporate awareness of US/China relations.

US-China Transpacific Foundation

UCTPF promotes American and Chinese mutual interests through politics, economic and trade forums, as well as through a culture and education exchange. The Las Vegas-based organization, which was founded in 2015, is sponsored by the Chinese government.

Capitol Counsel LLC will assist UCTPF with the planning and implementation of its Congressional travel program to China, which is intended to provide members of Congress the opportunity to enhance their understanding on the cultural, economic, political and social developments of the country. The National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs serve as the program’s host organizations.

The pact brings Capitol Counsel an initial fee of $50,000. The Chinese embassy in the U.S. will fund all activities of this program.

Capitol Counsel is lead by founding partner John Raffaelli, a Democratic lobbyist who was trade and tax advisor to former Texas Senator Lloyd Bentsen and a founder/chairman of The Washington Group and its predecessor firm, Raffaelli, Spees, Springer and Smith.