April 14, 2010 — The University of Virginia's McIntire School of Commerce will host a public symposium on "China's Emergence and the Transformation of Global Commerce" on April 23.

Presented by the McIntire School's newly created Center for Global Commerce, the 2010 Spring Symposium is free and open to the public. The event will run from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Old Cabell Hall on the Lawn.

This year's event will feature keynote speaker James Fallows, national correspondent for The Atlantic magazine and winner of the National Book Award, the American Book Award and the National Magazine Award. Fallows, who writes about issues related to politics, national security, the economy and foreign policy, said his goal is to "make the important interesting."

Based in China from 2006 to 2008, Fallows traveled extensively, chronicling that country's explosive growth and its staggering ramifications for America and the world. His recent book, "Postcards from Tomorrow Square: Reports from China," contains 12 essays in which he explains the economic, political, social and cultural forces that are transforming China into a world superpower at breakneck speed.

Fallows is the author of several books, including "Breaking the News," about the crisis facing contemporary news media, and "Blind into Baghdad," about the lead-up to the war in Iraq, which is now required reading in many military programs. He has also been a software designer for Microsoft, a speechwriter for President Jimmy Carter and The Atlantic's technology columnist.

Fallows' address will be followed by two panel discussions featuring business leaders and China experts (several of whom are U.Va. alumni), including one of America's pre-eminent China scholars, Harry Harding, dean of U.Va.'s Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy and author of three books on China.

For further schedule and speaker details, click here.