GE Careers Blog.

The University of Dayton China Institute opened Aug. 8 in Suzhou Industrial Park in Suzhou, China. Ceremonies were held to celebrate the opening and included performances by University of Dayton students and faculty, according to a university press release. University President Dr. Daniel Curran said over 100 dignitaries, including Suzhou Park leaders and former Ohio Gov. Bob Taft, were present along with other audience members. Located near a third of the world’s Fortune 500 companies, Curran said UDCI’s location promotes potential professional relationships to benefit the institute, UD students and industries. Current companies involved with institute research projects include General Electric, Emerson, Eli Lilly, Makino, Ethicon and Delphi, according to Philip Doepker, UDCI coordinator for industrial and technical relations.

This is the first in a series of occasional interviews with top executives about global competition and the lessons they’re learning as their companies expand in new international markets. This month, John Rice, vice chairman and head of global operations for General Electric, talks about his recent move to Hong Kong and how GE’s international strategy benefits its U.S. operations. His answers were edited for clarity and space.

The Experienced Commercial Leadership Program blog interviews Monica Li, GE Capital ECLP Class of 2012, China pole, to learn more about her personal experience with the new “Global New Directions Project.”

Multinational medical device and technology provider GE Healthcare, a division of General Electric Co, said it plans to employ another 200 Chinese engineers next year to support local research and development (R&D) work, along with a higher investment budget, to further expand its market share in second- and third-tier cities.

There have been several stories in the media recently about GE and China. Many of them have distorted the facts about the nature of GE’s business in China and especially the impact of that business on jobs here at home. The truth is that expanding into new markets and selling to more customers—whether in China or any other large, growing international market—means more GE jobs in the U.S., now and in the future.