Governor Brown Revisits China After 27 Years

“California is the largest state in America， facing China， and conducts the most frequent exchanges with it. I hope California can build a bridge of friendship across the Pacific Ocean between the United States and China，”said Premier Li Keqiang in his meeting with state governor Jerry Brown at Zhongnanhai on April 11.

He also expressed a wish that California could play a leading role in promoting exchanges and cooperation between states （provinces） and cities of the U. S. and China.

Governor Brown， once the youngest and now the most senior holder of the position in US history last visited China 27 years ago. The 75-yearold Governor led a trade delegation of more than 100 members who visited Beijing， Shanghai， Nanjing， Guangzhou and Shenzhen between April 8 and 16.

This action alone fully shows that the CEO of the 9th largest economy of the world （California’s GDP in 2012 approximated US$2 trillion） and the most innovative state of America attaches great importance to the fastgrowing Chinese market.

Governor Brown said California had unique strength in agriculture， information technology， medicine， clean energy， high education and scientific innovations while China possessed a rapidly growing economy， dynamic market and bountiful talents. If China and California could join hands and cooperate， it would create unlimited business opportunities and bring benefits to both sides. It was safe for China to invest in California. “Together we can overcome all difficulties， and we can move mountains，” he said.

On the issue of how to look at the proposed collaboration， he was full of expectation. His weeklong schedule in China was very tight， and his diligent and down-to-earth work style resulted in a rich harvest. In addition to winning high-level support like the meeting with Premier Li Keqiang， Governor Brown paid visits to the Minister of Commerce， the Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission and the Minister of Environmental Protection， and signed cooperation agreements or memoranda of understanding.

For example， he signed the MOU on the Establishment of the Chinese Provinces and California Joint Working Group on Trade and Investment Cooperation. An official of the Ministry of Commerce said that， with the aim of promoting mutual investment and trade between Chinese provinces/cities and foreign states/cities， the agreement with California was the first of its kind.

Wherever he went， Governor Brown was accorded a high-level reception. Han Zheng， Party Chief of Shanghai， Luo Zhijun， Party Chief of Jiangsu Province， Hu Chunhua and Zhu Xiaodan， Party Chief and Governor of Guangdong Province， held a meeting or a banquet to welcome the delegation.

Governor Brown’s visit was highly focused and rewarding. In Shanghai， he presided over an unveiling ceremony for the Californian Trade and Investment Office in China. In Nanjing， he identified the exchange and cooperation projects for the next stage with Jiangsu Province， California’s sister province in China.

In Shenzhen， Governor Brown paid a special visit to the BYD Company. Thanks to the in-depth cooperation with BYD， he became more confident in achieving his goal of increasing renewable energy share from 23% to 30%， and raising the electric automobile ownership to a million in California by 2020.

Accompanying Governor Brown， the 100-odd delegates made full use of the opportunity and held many business meetings and talks. Many deals were sealed and letters of intent signed， translating into reality the Governor’s election pledges of increasing employment and creating win-win opportunities.

Returning after 27 years， Governor Brown sang praises of the high buildings， wide streets and an atmosphere of fashion and vigor in the large cities. What struck the Governor even more was the moment when he and his delegation took bullet train rides from Beijing to Shanghai， and then on to Nanjing. It took only five hours thirty minutes to get to Shanghai from Beijing， and only 90 minutes from Shanghai to Nanjing. He was amazed at the speed and comfort of Chinese highspeed train， and impressed by groups of high rises and modern plants flashing by before his eyes.

Not only did Governor Brown return home with fruitful results in trade and business contracts， but he also forged a profound friendship with Chinese leaders both at the central and local government levels. He will not forget the cordial talk with China’s new premier， the youthful and dynamic Premier Li Keqiang， and the exchange of gifts with him.

He will not forget that， while he was still in Guangdong Province， President Xi Jinping especially entrusted a friend to convey his kind regards to the Governor and his wife， welcoming them to visit China again. He will not forget the welcoming banquet hosted by CPAFFC President Mme. Li Xiaolin.

Governor Brown was so busy during his stay in China. Nonetheless， he did not forget to show his care for the Chinese with him on his tour. I myself accompanied the Governor throughout his trip on behalf of the CPAFFC. The Governor courteously called me “Mr. Friendship”.

He and his wife signed on the book I happened to bring with me as a souvenir. This was an evidence of the title of “Mr. Friendship” he had especially conferred on me， and gave full expression to the fact that Governor Brown cherished friendly sentiment for ordinary Chinese and that he recognized the service I provided to ensure the success of his mission to China.

Governor Brown returned home via Hong Kong after visiting Shenzhen. His off-the-cuff speaking style on all occasions allowed us to appreciate a statesman’s elegant demeanor， who was elected Californian Governor three times， Mayor of Oakland twice， and campaigned for Democratic Presidential nomination three times.

In his meeting with Premier Li Keqiang， he said he would employ oriental wisdom in his efforts to win the Californian gubernatorial election next year， and become the longest serving governor in US history.