March 17, 2009, Kitakyushu - Charles D. Lake, President Emeritus and Chair of the Financial Services Forum at the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan, spoke on “Globalization, Asian Economic Integration, and the Future of U.S.-Japan Economic Relations” at a lecture program jointly conducted by Industry Club of West Japan and the Fukuoka American Center.

Speaking in Japanese, Mr. Lake presented his views on the transformation of the global economy, the Obama administration's vision to put the U.S. economy back on the path to recovery, and the outlook of the U.S.-Japan bilateral relationship. About 70 people, mostly senior officials of corporations, local government officials and university professors, attended the program.