SACRAMENTO – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. will travel to The People’s Republic of China this week to meet with Chinese government and business leaders, highlight bilateral trade and investment opportunities between the two regions and open a new California foreign trade and investment office.
The trade mission will include events in Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Guangzhou and Shenzhen from Wednesday, April 10th through Tuesday, April 16th.
The Governor will be joined by a delegation organized by the Bay Area Council that includes approximately 90 business, economic development, investment and policy leaders from throughout California. Senior administration officials will also accompany the delegation.
“California’s exports are booming and our place in the world economy has never been stronger. Our ties with The People’s Republic of China in particular are deep—from the Chinese immigrants crossing the Pacific in 1848 to hosting China’s next President in Los Angeles last February,” said Governor Brown in his State of the State Address in January. “This year we will take another step to strengthen the ties between the world’s second and ninth largest economies.”
The trip follows more than a year of significant diplomatic and business exchanges between the State of California and China. In February 2012, Governor Brown welcomed His Excellency Xi Jinping, then-Vice President, and now President of China, to California. During the visit, Governor Brown announced his intention to visit China, open a trade and investment office and form a China-California Joint Task Force to drive more collaboration, investment and trade between California and China. Later in 2012, the Brown administration convened the inaugural Joint Economic Committee between California and China’s Jiangsu Province, hosted a Chinese delegation led by the Vice Minister of China’s Ministry of Commerce and met with a Chinese delegation led by Deputy Governor Xia Geng of China’s Shandong Province.
The State of California has not had a formal presence in China since the previous foreign trade offices were closed in 2003.
**Note: The itinerary below reflects the following additions and changes:
Wednesday, April 10, 2013:
• Added meeting and MOU signing with China’s Minister of Environmental Protection at 2:00 p.m. in Beijing.
• Added meeting with China’s Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission at 3:30 p.m. in Beijing.
Thursday, April 11, 2013
• Added meeting with China’s Premier at 3:30 p.m. in Beijing.
• As a result of this scheduling change, the Governor will be traveling straight to Shanghai from Beijing and will participate in the meeting and MOU signing with senior Jiangsu government officials in Nanjing on Sunday, April 14, 2013 rather than Thursday, April 11, 2013.
Sunday, April 14, 2013
• Added meeting and MOU signing with senior Jiangsu government officials at 12:10 p.m. in Nanjing, previously scheduled on Thursday, April 11, 2013.
• Cancelled California-China Bilateral Investment and Innovation Forum in Shanghai.
Monday, April 15, 2013
• Replaced meeting and MOU signing with senior Guangdong government officials at 10:30 a.m. with two events: a meeting with the Guangdong Governor and MOU signing at 12:00 p.m. and a meeting with senior Guangdong government officials, including the Guangdong Party Secretary at 4:30 p.m.
Some times and locations listed as TBD in the previous advisory have been added. All events, times and locations are subject to change. Please note that all times are local. Full information on media coverage, including mandatory RSVPs, is included below.
Moving forward, any updates to the itinerary will be reflected in the online media advisory at: www.gov.ca.gov.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Meeting with the Minister of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China, Memorandum of Understanding Signing Ceremony & Media Availability
When: Wednesday, April 10, 2013. Meeting begins at 9:00 a.m. MOU signing begins at 9:30 a.m. Media availability will begin after the MOU signing ceremony has concluded.
Where: Hunan Hotel, Hunan Hall, 10th Floor, No. 9 Beijing Station Qian Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing
Media Coverage: Media coverage of the meeting between the Governor and Minister of Commerce will be pooled.* Credentialed media interested in covering the MOU signing ceremony preceding the meeting and the media availability with Governor Brown following the ceremony must RSVP by Friday, April 5, 2013 to Riley.Robbins@gov.ca.gov with name, outlet and contact information.
Lunch Forum with the American Chamber of Commerce – Beijing
When: Wednesday, April 10, 2013 at 12:00 p.m.
Where: Peninsula Hotel, Grand Ballroom, 8 Goldfish Lane, Wangfujing, Beijing
Media Coverage: Credentialed media interested in covering the reception must RSVP by Friday, April 5, 2013 to Riley.Robbins@gov.ca.gov with name, outlet and contact information.
Meeting with China’s Minister of Environmental Protection Zhou Shengxian & Memorandum of Understanding Signing
When: Wednesday, April 10, 2013 at 2:00 p.m.
Where: Beijing, TBD
Media Coverage: The meeting is closed to press. Photos will be released after the meeting concludes.
Meeting with China’s Chairman of the National Development & Reform Commission Xu Shaoshi
When: Wednesday, April 10, 2013 at 3:30 p.m.
Where: Beijing, TBD
Media Coverage: The meeting is closed to press. Photos will be released after the meeting concludes.
U.S. Embassy Trade & Investment Reception with Ambassador Gary Locke
When: Wednesday, April 10, 2013 at 5:00 p.m.
Where: U.S. Embassy, No. 55 An Jia Lou Road, Beijing
Media Coverage: Television and still photography coverage of the event will be pooled.* Credentialed print reporters interested in covering the reception must RSVP by Friday, April 5, 2013 to BeijingPressOffice@state.gov with name, outlet, contact information and any electronic equipment you intend to carry. This equipment is subject to approval by the U.S. Embassy Regional Security Office; no wireless enabled equipment is allowed inside the Embassy. Please allow ample time for security screening.
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Remarks at Tsinghua University
When: Thursday, April 11, 2013 at 9:00 a.m.
Where: Tsinghua University, Main Building inside Main (South East) Gate, Qinghua West Road, Haidian District, Beijing
Media Coverage: Credentialed media interested in covering the remarks must RSVP by Monday, April 8, 2013 to Riley.Robbins@gov.ca.gov with name, outlet and contact information.
Meeting with China’s Premier Li Keqiang
When: Thursday, April 11, 2013 at 3:30 p.m.
Where: Beijing, TBD
Media Coverage: The meeting is closed to press. Photos will be released after the meeting concludes.
Friday, April 12, 2013
California Trade & Investment Office Opening
When: Friday, April 12, 2013 at 10:00 a.m.
Where: Knowledge & Innovation Community (KIC) Auditorium, Building 7, KIC Plaza, Yangpu District, Shanghai
Media Coverage: Credentialed media interested in covering the event must RSVP by Monday, April 8, 2013 to RJeffris@bayareacouncil.org with name, outlet and contact information.
California-China Agriculture & Export Forum*
When: Friday, April 12, 2013 at 2:00 p.m.
Where: Hyatt on the Bund, Glasshouse Room, Level M, East Tower, 199 Huang Pu Road, Shanghai
Media Coverage: Credentialed media interested in covering the event must RSVP by Monday, April 8, 2013 to smh-shanghai@163.com with name, outlet and contact information.
Visit California’s “California Dreamers” Reception & Press Conference
When: Friday, April 12, 2013 at 5:00 p.m.
Where: The Ritz Carlton, Grand Ballroom, Shanghai IFC, 8 Century Avenue, Lujiazui, Pudong, Shanghai
Media Coverage: Credentialed media interested in covering the event must RSVP by Monday, April 8, 2013 to JDong@aviareps.com with name, outlet and contact information.
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Meeting with Shanghai Party Secretary
When: Saturday, April 13, 2013 at 9:00 a.m.
Where: TBD
California-China Sustainable Urban Planning Forum*
When: Saturday, April 13, 2013 at 9:30 a.m.
Where: Shanghai Urban Planning Museum, 100 Renmin Avenue, Huangpu District, Shanghai
Media Coverage: Credentialed media interested in covering the event must RSVP by Monday, April 8, 2013 to RJeffris@bayareacouncil.org with name, outlet and contact information.
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Meeting & Memorandum of Understanding Signing with Senior Jiangsu Government Officials
When: Thursday, April 11, 2013 at 12:10 p.m.
Where: Jinling Hotel, Xin Jie Kou Square, Nanjing
Media Coverage: Media coverage of the meeting and MOU signing will be pooled.*
Monday, April 15, 2013
Breakfast Forum with American Chamber of Commerce – South China
When: Monday, April 15, 2013 at 8:30 a.m.
Where: Grand Hyatt, 12 Zhujiang West Road, Pearl River New City, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province
Media Coverage: Credentialed media interested in covering the event must RSVP by Friday, April 5, 2013 to Riley.Robbins@gov.ca.gov with name, outlet and contact information.
Meeting with Guangdong Governor & Memorandum of Understanding Signing
When: Monday, April 15, 2013 at 12:00 p.m.
Where: Dong Fang Hotel, 120 Liu Hua Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province
Media Coverage: Media coverage of the meeting and MOU signing will be pooled.*
Meeting with Senior Guangdong Government Officials including the Guangdong Party Secretary
When: Monday, April 15, 2013 at 4:30 p.m.
Where: Guangzhou, TBD
Media Coverage: Media coverage of the meeting will be pooled.*
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Meeting with Shenzhen Party Secretary
When: Tuesday, April 16, 2013 at 10:30 a.m.
Where: TBD, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province
Media Coverage: Media coverage of the meeting will be pooled.*
Tour of BYD Worldwide Headquarters
When: Tuesday, April 16, 2013 at 12:30 p.m.
Where: BYD Headquarters, No. 3009, BYD Road, Pingshan, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province
Media Coverage: Credentialed media interested in covering the BYD tour must RSVP by Monday, April 8, 2013 to micheal.austin@byd.com with name, outlet and contact information.
*Note: For the California-China Agriculture & Export Forum and California-China Sustainable Urban Planning Forum, Governor Brown’s attendance is not confirmed. For more information on the events with pooled media coverage, please contact Evan.Westrup@gov.ca.gov.
For updates and other announcements throughout the trade mission, please follow these social media channels:
• California-China Trade and Investment Office: Twitter: @CAChinaTrade; Facebook: www.facebook.com/CAChinaTrade; Weibo: @CAChinaTrade
• Governor Brown: Twitter: @JerryBrownGov; Facebook: www.facebook.com/jerrybrown; Google+: www.plus.google.com/+JerryBrown
• Go-Biz: Twitter: @CAGoBiz; Facebook: www.facebook.com/CAGoBiz
• Bay Area Council: Twitter: @BayAreaCouncil; Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bayareacouncil
Press releases and other content will also be posted at: www.business.ca.gov/china.aspx