President Li Xiaolin met with Western U.S. Local Officials’ Delegation on August 1, 2016, which was organized by U.S. Sino Friendship Association and headed by California State Treasurer John Chiang. The delegation is composed of mayors from the cities of Beverly Hills, Ontario, Yorba Linda, Coasta Mesa, Oxnard, Artesia of California and North Las Vegas of Nevada. Vice President Xie Yuan also attended the meeting.

President Li Xiaolin said, with the aims of enhancing people’s friendship and safeguarding world peace, the CPAFFC had established cooperation partnerships with nearly 600 non-governmental organizations and institutions in 157 countries across the world. China-U.S. subnational exchanges form the foundation of bilateral relations. 46 pairs of sister states and 212 pairs of sister cities have been established between the two countries. Five rounds of China-U.S. Governors Forum or dialogues have been held. She hoped every delegate learn more about China through this trip, while forging cooperative ties with their Chinese counterparts.

John Chiang highly commended the CPAFFC on its mission to safeguard world peace and promote common development. He said it’s the fourth time for Western Local Official’s Delegation to visit China. By paying visits to Chinese local governments and enterprises, the delegation is aimed to promote the exchanges and cooperation between western U.S. and Chinese localities in various areas, and serve as a bridge for friendship, understanding and peace between the east and west, as well as U.S. and China. 

During the meeting, CPAFFC Vice President Xie Yuan signed an MOU with President Simon Pang of U.S. Sino Friendship Association, to further their friendly ties and the practical cooperation at the sub-national level between the two countries.