China-U.S. Governors Forum helps promote bilateral co-op: senior Chinese official

Source:Led b2b   Date:2011-3-21  close   Printing

Li Xiaolin (1st R), vice president of the Chinese People`s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), and Chris Gregoire, chair of the U.S. National Governors Association (NGA) and also Washington Governor, sign an agreement at a ceremony in Washington D.C., capital of the United States, Feb. 26, 2011. China and the United States on Saturday signed an agreement to formally establish the China-U.S. Governors Forum to promote sub-national exchanges and cooperation. (Xinhua/Lin Yu)

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- China-U.S. Governors Forum, a newly launched sub-national consultation mechanism, will strengthen bilateral cooperation in a more effective way, a senior Chinese official said here Saturday.

"The forum is one of the direct, pragmatic and effective platforms between the two countries," Zhou Qiang, secretary of the Hunan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, told reporters on the sidelines of the U.S. National Governors Association (NGA) Winter Meeting.

Earlier in the day, Zhou witnessed Li Xiaolin, vice president of the Chinese People`s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), and Christine Gregoire, chair of the NGA, sign an agreement that formally established the forum.

The new initiative has far-reaching significance in three dimensions, Zhou said.

Firstly, the forum provides a platform for timely and direct exchanges of information between Chinese and U.S. governors, he said, noting that sub-national governments in both countries are facing opportunities as well as challenges in economic development, science and technology, education and many other areas.

Secondly, the forum will help solve the problems confronting the two countries` sub-national governments "effectively and pragmatically," the provincial chief added.

He said that he has had working talks with six U.S. governors during the visit, and has signed a memorandum of understanding about cooperation with the state of Delaware.

Thirdly, it will promote comprehensive exchanges and cooperation between sub-national governments of the two countries, Zhou said.