On May 22, China Provinces-U.S. States Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum was held in Taiyuan during the 12th Expo Central China. Attending the forum were about 150 local government representatives and business people from Chinese provinces and cities including Shanxi, Hunan, Jiangxi, Hubei, Jiangsu, Heilongjiang, Zhejiang and Tianjin, as well as U.S. states and cities, including the State of California, the State of New York, the State of Iowa and the City of Chicago. Attendees had in-depth discussions on U.S. investment in China and Chinese investment in the U.S. with a view to stepping up China-U.S. sub-national trade and economic exchanges and promoting win-win development. They interpreted relevant policies, shared successful cases, analyzed the opportunities and challenges facing U.S.-China economic and trade relations and explored practical cooperation opportunities.

Wang Shouwen, Vice Minister of Commerce and Deputy China International Trade Representative, said that the rapid development of trade and economic cooperation between China and U.S. since the establishment of diplomatic relations shows that the its essence is mutual benefit and win-win. Sub-national trade and economic cooperation has broadened the field of cooperation between the two sides, helped with the implementation of investment projects, fostered some brand activities that are highly popular among enterprises from both countries, and thus become the highlights of bilateral trade and economic cooperation. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China will move faster to foster a new development paradigm and keep advancing high-level opening-up and optimizing its business environment, which will provide more development opportunities for foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs), including U.S.-invested enterprises, and inject new momentum into China-U.S. trade and economic cooperation. I hope that following the guiding principles of the phone call between the two heads of state, the U.S. and China will work together, focus on cooperation, manage differences, and promote the healthy and steady development of China-US economic and trade relations to contribute to the economic growth of the two countries, world economic recovery and the well-being of the peoples in the two countries and beyond.

Wu Wei, Vice Governor of Shanxi Province, said that Shanxi is an open and inclusive province with a long history, splendid culture and rich resources. It is hoped that under the framework of China-U.S. sub-national trade and investment cooperation, exchanges will be stepped up in economy, trade, education, culture, health and tourism with a view to fostering new growth areas for trade and economic cooperation in new technologies, new materials, new equipment, new products and new business models.

Eleni Kounalakis, Lieutenant Governor of the State of California, Kathleen C. Hochul, Lieutenant Governor of the State of New York and Lori E. Lightfoot, Mayor of Chicago delivered speeches via video link, saying that their states and cities enjoy close trade and economic bonds and frequent people-to-people exchanges with China and have attracted a large number of Chinese investors. These states and cities look forward to sharing experiences with China in tackling climate change and promoting economic growth, advancing cooperation, and developing mutually beneficial and win-win relationships to promote their respective economic development.

(All information published on this website is authentic in Chinese. English is provided for reference only.)