Organized by the Guangdong Government, the Government of the State of California, Chinese People’s for Friendship with Foreign Countries and California China Climate Institute, the first US-China Bay to Bay Dialogue was held in Berkeley, California on May 29 (local time).
More than 200 representatives from both sides attended the Dialogue, including Guangdong Governor Wang Weizhong, Financial Secretary of Hong Kong SAR Paul Chan and Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of Macao SAR Ao leong U.
Governor Wang Weizhong indicated that Guangdong had seized the opportunity of reform and opening up to become the leading economic province in China, with its GDP ranking first for 35 consecutive years. Guangdong will continue to expand high-level opening up by developing the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, stimulating the three driving forces of reform, opening up, and innovation. Guangdong and the Greater Bay Area are willing to work together with California and the San Francisco Bay Area to strengthen practical cooperation between the bay areas, achieving higher quality and higher levels of mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.
Yang Wanming, President of Chinese People’s for Friendship with Foreign Countries, stated that the GBA has accounted for 1/9 national GDP with less than 0.6% national territorial area. He believes that the Dialogue will enhance the collaboration between the two bay areas and realize win-win cooperation.
Zhang Jianmin, Consul General of China in San Francisco, indicated that both two bay areas are the important regions for economy and innovative development in their respective countries, serving as hubs to attract talents, technologies and capital. He emphasized that the cooperation between the two bay areas will inject positive energy to the relationship between China and America.
Gavin Newsome, Governor of State of California, expressed his gratitude to the representatives from the GBA. He believes that the Dialogue will become a platform for both two regions to exchange ideas and pragmatic measures, facilitating future cooperation.
According to Xu Xiaoxia, Director-General of Department of Ecology and Environment of Guangdong Province, Guangdong and California have reached an agreement in controlling emission of methane, including strengthening R&D in emission control, technical pathways and the establishment of rubust monitoring systems.
This year marks the 10th anniversary for the establishment of Sister Province (State) relationship between Guangdong and California, with 12 pairs of sister cities between the two regions.
