NEW YORK - Aspiring and veteran entertainment industry leaders from the US and China will meet in New York City early next month to promote closer cooperation between the two major global entertainment and media economies.

The First Annual 2018 Global Entertainment Industry Summit (GEIS), which runs from April 9-10 at Manhattan Center, will focus on the dynamic relationship between the two entertainment powerhouses and "how aspiring and veteran professionals can understand foreign audiences in order to successfully and tastefully break into new markets," said Kevin Parker, New York State Senator, in his invitation letter for the event.

"In recent years we've seen the rise of certain forms of media, such as online social platforms, and their impact in shaping culture, commerce, and politics...Our goal this summit is to explore TV series, film, and social media's impact in shaping a new age of global cultural expression and communication between China and the United States," Parker said.

The two-day round table discussion will feature industrial speakers that include Michael Lebensfeld, managing director from Ingenuity Studios, James Chen, actor (The Walking Dead), Justin Nemeth, Moderator, New York University Cinema Studies & William Esper Studio Alumnus.

GEIS is a nonprofit organization located in New York City, with a focus on education and cross-cultural communication in the entertainment industry.