Despite concerns over the U.S.-initiated trade dispute with China, the state of Georgia is showing strong interest in building cooperative ties with Chinese partners in order to offset the negative impact caused by Washington's protectionist trade policy. Georgia, a southern U.S. state known for its business-friendly environment and trade-driven economy, just hosted an investment and trade forum with northwest China's Shaanxi Province for local entrepreneurs and business representatives who were eager to find more potential opportunities to forge partnerships with the Chinese side.