United States Department of State Holds Forum on Expanding R

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United States Department of State Holds Forum on Expanding Relationships in China for State and Local Governments


Media Note
Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC

February 14, 2011




More than 70 state and local leaders and staff from throughout the United States attended a conference on “Expanding Relationships in China for State and Local Governments” at the U.S. Department of State on February 10. Under Secretary for Economic, Energy, and Agricultural Affairs Robert Hormats delivered the keynote address on U.S. – China economic relations and emphasized the importance of subnational cooperation to address key bilateral issues. The forum also featured speakers from a variety of federal agencies including the Departments of Energy, Commerce, and Treasury. John Pastor, the Director of International Trade from the State of Delaware, shared Delaware’s experiences in engaging China and attracting foreign direct investment.
The forum was organized by the Office of the Special Representative for Global Intergovernmental Affairs with the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs. Special Representative Reta Jo Lewis discussed the memorandum of understanding which formally recognized the importance of increased cooperation at the subnational level that Secretary Clinton and Chinese Foreign Minister Yang signed during Chinese President Hu Jintao’s state visit. The forum included discussions on bilateral trade, climate change and clean energy, China’s investment climate, and education.
Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission Deng Hongbo hosted a reception for participants at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China following the forum.


PRN: 2011/202