Tennessee’s diverse economic base helps the state develop a wide range of business connections with China. Large employers such as Eastman Chemical and Fedex have significant connections to China.  The strong global automotive industry in the state also attracted many Chinese component producers to set up operations in the state to be closer to their customers.  Cross border investments in medical devices are also growing. On the education front, similar to many other heartland state universities, the largest group of international students in the state is from China.  Many Chinese students go on to become much coveted talents in the STEM field and contribute significantly to the state’s highly skilled workforce. The Chinese American population is also growing in the state, attracted by the various economic and educational opportunities in the state.