Governor Brown's Secretary for Food and Agriculture, Karen Ross, today hosted a Chinese delegation led by the Vice Minister of China's Ministry of Commerce, Mr. Wang Chao. Secretary Ross and Vice Minister Wang Chao convened members of the Joint Economic Working Group between China and California and discussed collaboration of trade and investment efforts between our two regions.
"Today's visit from Vice Minister Wang Chao further strengthens the economic partnership between China and California," said Secretary Ross. "California is the gateway to the U.S. economy and we are committed to fostering an economic environment that leads to increased trade and investment for both California and Chinese companies."
This is California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross and China's Vice Minister of Commerce Wang Chao. Photo by Julian Short, Office of the governor
In an earlier meeting with Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsome and San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee he signed memorandums of Understanding to buy at least $100 million worth of almonds and pistachios from Blue Diamond Growers and Paramount Farms. The signing was part of a conference hosted by the public-private agency ChinaSF. In 2011 California's exports to China increased to $14 billion, second only to Mexico and Japan.
The CDFA meeting was hosted in partnership with the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA).
In February 2012, Governor Brown met with Vice President Xi Jinping in Los Angeles during a Chinese delegation trip to California. During Vice President Xi's visit, Governor Brown and U.S. Vice President Joe Biden met with Xi and several members of the Chinese government to discuss the importance of bilateral trade and investment.
This working group meeting built upon those discussions as officials from California and China discussed opportunities to promote tourism, increase two-way trade and investment, develop new energy resources, promote innovations in science, technology and biomedical fields; and strengthen education.