The New Silk Road Award Honors
U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein

California-Asia Business Council (Cal-Asia) will present The New Silk Road Award for 2005 to U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein for outstanding contributions to California-Asia business.

America's commercial relationships with Asia are critically important to this country’s future. Senator Feinstein has taken a leading role in building trust, a prerequisite to commercial cooperation. She has also helped ensure that the complexities of these relationships are well understood among policymakers -- who can then make informed decisions.

Senator Feinstein’s commitment to California-Asia commerce has changed the way the United States interacts, trades and invests with its Asian trade partners, creating increased opportunities for U.S. firms, and better ways for resolving disputes.

Past Recipients
2003: Dr. Daniel K.H. Chao, Chairman, Bechtel China
2004: Mr. Washington SyCip, Founder of SGV Group, "Wise Owl of Asia"

About the Award
The fine scarlet- and ivory-hued silk weaving used to create Senator Feinstein's Award was hand-woven at the studio of world-renowned Carol Cassidy, founder and owner of Lao Textiles in Vientiane, Laos, who has single-handedly helped to revive that nation's silk-weaving industry. The brocade pattern is based on the traditional designs of the Tai Lue people of Northern Laos. It exemplifies the beauty and complexity of Lao weaving.

The silk piece was generously donated to Cal-Asia by Mac and Chip Ramsay, proprietors of THE OLD RANGOON, a retail shop specializing in the finest Asian crafts, based in Highlands, North Carolina (www.theoldrangoon.com). It was handsomely framed by Joe Dellert, proprietor of THE ARTISANS, 1946 Union Street, tel. 415-921-0456 -- San Francisco's longest continually operated frame shop. We invite Asia Night guests to patronize these special friends of Cal-Asia.