On September 22, 2015, the Third China-U.S. Governors Forum, with the theme of “Clean Energy and Economic Development” was held in Seattle, Washington State of the United States. Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the forum and delivered an important speech.

President Xi applauded that the theme of this Forum “low carbon economic development” meets with the common challenges of both China and the United States, as well as the world community. Xi pointed out that sub-national cooperation plays an important role on the bilateral relations, and is most connected with the ordinary people. State relations not only need the support from people, but also serve the people. Over the past 30 years, the development of China-U.S. relations benefited from local and people-to-people exchanges, and will continue to rely on local cooperation and benefit the local people. In recent years, the China-U.S. local exchanges and cooperation thrived, with 43 pairs of sister state/province relationship and 200 pairs of sister city relationship established. Under the current circumstances where the economic globalization and China-U.S. practical cooperation is expanding, the local government exchanges and cooperation will have broader prospects. The two sides should utilize the opportunities generated by the two great economies, and share the policy advantages of reform and development, give full play to the potential of the mutual complimentary. China and US should strengthen cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, information, auto-manufacturing and environmental protection, while maintaining people-to-people exchanges, expanding cooperation in education, tourism, sports and between the youth of the two countries, starting a new page of China-U.S. Cooperation.

Governor Brown of California expressed a welcome to President Xi Jinping, whose visit has come at crucial moment of the development of U.S.-China relations and the development of the whole world. Maintaining close ties between the two countries is beneficial to the entire world. Both sides have reached important agreements on expanding cooperation on low-carbon technology and clean energy. Global challenges such as climate change can not be solved by any country alone. Both countries should join hands, promoting international cooperative efforts to meet these challenges.

State and provincial leaders participating in this forum briefed on the cooperation between their state/province and their sister state/province. They all expressed wishes to further promote relations between the countries by sub-national cooperation.

Based on the consensus of the presidents of the two countries, China-U.S. Governors Forum was first established in 2011. Representatives attending this year’s forum included Governor Brown of California, Governor Inslee of Washington, Governor Branstad of Iowa, Governor Brown of Oregon, Secretary Wang Dongming of CPC Sichuan Provincial Committee, Mayor Wang Anshun of Beijing, Mayor Huang Qifan of Chongqing, Governor Li Qiang of Zhejiang, Governor Guo Shuqing of Shandong, Governor Lou Qinjian of Shaanxi and President Li Xiaolin of CPAFFC.

Wang Huning, Li Zhanshu and Yang Jiechu also attended this event.