Felix P. Camacho, governor of Guam of the United States, and his party of 12 visited Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong from September 25 to October 1, 2003 at the invitation of the CPAFFC. During their stay in China, Governor Camacho called on Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, Chairman of China National Tourism Administration He Guangwei and Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng, and held talks with the departments concerned. CPAFFC President Chen Haosu hosted a banquet to welcome the delegation. Governor Camacho gave a press briefing, granted interviews to reporters from CCTV-9 and TSTV, and attended the National Day reception held in the Great Hall of the People.
Situated in the southern tip of the Mariana Islands in West Pacific, Guam is an Unincorporated Territory of the United States. The greatest part of its revenue comes from tourism. After he was elected governor of Guam in January 2003, Felix P. Camacho has vigorously advocated the economic development of Guam and expressed on many occasions that he attached great importance to developing relations with China. When meeting with Camacho and his party, Foreign Minister Li Zaoxing said that the relations between China and the U. S. were very good at present and that he had just returned from the United Nations General Assembly meeting held in New York, during which he met with US President George W. Bush and had a nice talk with him. Li added that President Bush reiterated that the U. S. would abide by the three Sino-US joint communiqués and would not support Taiwan independence. He told the Governor that he had a meeting with US Secretary of State Collin Powell and they both reiterated that the two countries would strengthen cooperation in anti-terrorism, the prevention of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the nuclear issue of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and further enhance their economic and trade relations. Li said that the governor's visit coincided with the 54th anniversary of the founding of new China, adding joy and festivity to the occasion. He expressed the belief that the visit would surely enhance the friendly and cooperative relations between China and Guam.
Governor Camacho said, Guam, the part of the United States closest to Asia and China, has a unique history and culture. The Chamorros-local inhabitants of Guam-are Asians. The geographic location of Guam determines that its future and economic prosperity are linked with Asia, especially with China whose economy has seen rapid growth. The governor said that his visit to China was to fulfill the promise he had made to the voters during the election campaign, which was to open the big potential Chinese market and strengthen cooperation in the fields of tourism, investment, education, fishery and telecommunications between the two sides so as to promote economic prosperity of Guam and benefit the next generation.
CNTA Chairman He Guangwei had breakfast with Governor Camacho and his party. When talking about letting Guam become a destination for outbound Chinese tourists, He Guangwei said, the continuous rapid development of China's national economy and the significant improvement of the living standard of its people are the preconditions for more and more Chinese citizens to travel abroad. Now many countries have become tourist destinations of Chinese citizens. There is no problem on the Chinese side to ratify Guam as a tourist destination for Chinese citizens.
Governor Camacho expressed the hope that the industrious and ingenious Chinese people would choose the beautiful Guam to spend their vacations, to relax and enjoy the sunshine, the beaches and the tropical scenery there.