The Third U.S.-China Subnational Legislatures Cooperation Forum was held in Las Vegas, Nevada, on November 29th with the joint hosts of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and State Legislative Leaders Foundation (SLLF).
Themed on “Promoting Partnerships--States and Provinces Working Together”, the representatives of the Forum carried out in-depth discussions on promoting U.S.-China economic, trade and education cooperation through legislation, conducted active exchanges in intelligent transportation, healthcare industry development and legislation. CPAFFC President Li Xiaolin, leaders from Standing Committees of five Chinese Municipal and Provincial People’s Congress, Minister Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in the United States Yin Chengwu, Consul General of China in San Francisco Wang Donghua, SLLF President Stephen G. Lakis, 25 legislative leaders from 16 states of the United States as well as nearly 150 representatives from various sectors of both countries were present at the Forum.
President Li Xiaolin pointed out in her speech that, the China-U.S. relationship was experiencing a temporary downturn with some difficulties, in the meanwhile possessing significant development opportunities. As long as our two countries focus on cooperation and properly manage our differences in the spirit of mutual respect and win-win cooperation, the China-U.S. relations must be able to embrace sound and stable development in the long run. China would deepen reform and further open up, to create promising future for mutually beneficial cooperation between China and the United States as well as other countries in the world. This Forum will provide a platform for Chinese and American legislators to share views and form new ideas for future cooperation.
Minister Counsellor Yin Chengwu read the Congratulatory Message from Chinese Ambassador Cui Tiankai to the Forum and delivered his own speech, admired the Forum for providing a platform for exchanges between China-U.S. sub-national legislatures and sub-national interactions, and extended the belief that the growth of China-U.S. relations would help create a more solid framework and open up greater prospects for the sub-national cooperation, including between sub-national legislatures.
President Lakis said that SLLF would remain committed to working together with CPAFFC to promote the U.S.-China subnational legislative cooperation and based on this, enhance the economic, trade and cultural collaboration, so as to contributing to the healthy development of U.S.-China relationship.
Executive Vice Chairman of Standing Committee of Jiangsu Provincial People’s Congress Chen Zhenning spoke on behalf of Chinese provinces and cities present at this forum, said that the establishment of China-U.S. sub-national legislature cooperation mechanism had undoubtedly provided an important platform and a unique opportunity for both sides to strengthen dialogues, enhance mutual understanding and deepen cooperation, injected positive energy into the development of more comprehensive, longer-term and healthier development of China-U.S. relations.
The Joint Joint Statement of the Third U.S.-China Subnational Legislatures Cooperation Forum has been issued at the Forum, declaring that China and U.S. provincial and state legislatures will be committed to promoting the exchanges in various fields, enhancing cooperation and strengthening friendship.
The U.S.-China Subnational Legislatures Cooperation Forum was established in December 2015 as one of the results of President Xi Jinping’s state visit to the United States in September 2015. The forum aims at utilizing subnational legislatures to pragmatic cooperation between Chinese provinces and American states and to promote the healthy development of China-U.S. relations at large. The first and second Forum was held respectively in Honolulu City of Hawaii State in 2016 and in Wuhan of Hubei Province in 2017.
