The China-California Business Forum took place in Los Angeles on Monday, gathering officials, business organizations, and companies dedicated to expanding business ties and enhancing trade cooperation between China and California.
Addressing the event, Chinese Consul General in Los Angeles Guo Shaochun highlighted that China is California's largest trading partner, with California hosting the largest presence of Chinese-invested companies among all U.S. states. He emphasized that this economic and trade cooperation has driven employment growth and benefited the economies of both China and the United States.
In 2023, the two-way trade between China and California surpassed $137 billion. Guo noted that more than half of the containers entering and leaving the Port of Los Angeles are engaged in trade with China, and 70 percent of the cargo volume at the Port of Long Beach is China-related.
Guo described the China-California Business Forum as a crucial platform for deeper communication and broader business opportunities, aiming to vitalize subnational cooperation and promote the sound, stable, and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations.
Lieutenant Governor of California Eleni Kounalakis remarked on the unique relationship between California and China, citing the state's strategic location on the Pacific Rim, its large Chinese American community, significant trading activities, and robust student exchanges. \"All of those have led to the creation of longstanding and respectful friendship,\" she stated.
This year's forum featured a Chinese delegation of over 150 top business leaders and trade officials from dozens of provinces, with Shanghai serving as the Guest City of Honor. The forum concentrated on key sectors including clean technologies, e-commerce, agriculture, infrastructure, and innovation.
During the event, several memoranda of understanding were signed to enhance trade cooperation between China and California. Notable agreements include one between the World Trade Center Los Angeles and the Shanghai Foreign Investment Development Board, and another between San Francisco International Airport and the Shanghai Airport Authority.
The China-California Business Forum is an annual event established under the China Provinces and U.S. California Joint Working Framework for Trade and Investment cooperation. Since its inception in 2016, the forum has attracted over 2,100 attendees, fostering pragmatic cooperation in trade and investment between California and various provinces and cities in China.
Reference(s):
China-California Business Forum held to boost economic cooperation
cgtn.com
