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Diplomatic relations between the U.S. and China may be tense due to continued fencing over human rights issues, but for two Portland lawyers who regularly do business in China, the atmosphere there is anything but frosty.

In fact, it could be said that from legal and business perspectives, connections between the two nations are stronger than ever.

Akana Ma, a partner at Ater Wynne and chair of its Global Trade Practice Group, says U.S.-China trade relations transcend daily or weekly political events. Though he travels to China less now that he鈥檚 a partner, Ma has witnessed China鈥檚 evolution toward greater sophistication in its understanding and adoption of global business practices.

鈥淐hina is much more familiar with the U.S. regulatory structure and systems than before and has adopted many of them. There鈥檚 just been a general increase in the complexity of the Chinese legal and business system,鈥� Ma says.

Over the last couple of years, Ater Wynne has developed more clients that are Chinese companies seeking to invest in U.S. companies, natural resources and property. As personal wealth in China has grown, the country鈥檚 business leaders want to diversify their investments. They see America as an attractive option.

鈥淲e have been anticipating this for many years, and although it is happening in fits and starts, it is happening,鈥� Ma says. 鈥淭hat money is burning a hole in their pocket and they are looking to invest it overseas.鈥�

Trade and tariff issues continue to be a point of contention between the U.S. and China. Jim Mei, a partner with Davis Wright Tremaine, says he witnessed firsthand China鈥檚 anger when the U.S.

imposed tariffs on its solar panels last year. During a business trip there last September, one of Mei鈥檚 meetings with Chinese officials was cancelled 鈥� a cultural reflection of China鈥檚 disapproval of the tariff decision.

鈥淭here will always be disputes or some quarreling,鈥� Mei says, 鈥渂ut overall I think it鈥檚 a healthy relationship and there are efforts to mitigate the trade imbalance.鈥�

Like Ma, Mei has seen China鈥檚 foreign direct investment in the U.S. rise, and several of his clients are doing more business there. Mei is called to travel to China more frequently than in the past, and has seen changes in its legal system as well as its business climate.

鈥淥ver the last thirty years, I have seen Chinese law getting more comprehensive and more relaxed,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t used to be much more restrictive when it came to foreign lawyers.鈥�