Los Angeles was buzzing on Monday as the China-California Business Forum kicked off, bringing together a powerhouse of officials, business gurus, and companies aiming to supercharge trade and economic ties between China and California. 🌐🤝
Guo Shaochun, the Chinese Consul General in Los Angeles, highlighted the special bond between China and the Golden State. \"China is California's largest trading partner, and California hosts the most Chinese-invested companies among all U.S. states,\" he noted. This partnership isn't just about numbers—it's about jobs, growth, and bringing benefits to people on both sides of the Pacific. 🌊💼
Fun fact: In 2023, China was California's top trading buddy, with trade hitting over a whopping $137 billion! 🚀 More than half of the containers at the Port of Los Angeles are all about trade with China, and 70% of the cargo at the Port of Long Beach is linked to China. That's a lot of stuff moving across the ocean! 🚢📦
The forum isn't just a talk shop; it's an important platform for deeper chats and bigger business moves. \"The forum will energize local cooperation and promote the sound, stable, and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations,\" Guo added. 💡🌱
Eleni Kounalakis, the Lieutenant Governor of California, chimed in on the special vibes between California and China. From the state's spot on the Pacific Rim and its vibrant Chinese American community to bustling trade activities and student exchanges—it's a friendship that's been building over time. \"All of those have led to the creation of longstanding and respectful friendship,\" she shared. 🎎❤️
This year's forum was extra special, featuring a delegation of over 150 top business leaders and trade officials from across China. Shanghai took the spotlight as the Guest City of Honor. The focus was on hot sectors like clean tech, e-commerce, agriculture, infrastructure, and innovation. Talk about covering all the bases! 🌱💻🌾🏗️💡
To turn words into action, a series of agreements were signed to boost trade cooperation. This includes deals 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. ✍️📄
For those keeping score, the China-California Business Forum is an annual event under the China Provinces and U.S. California Joint Working Framework for Trade and Investment Cooperation. Since its start in 2016, it's drawn over 2,100 attendees. Not bad for a forum that's all about making connections and driving growth! 🚀🌉
Reference(s):
China-California Business Forum held to boost economic cooperation
cgtn.com
