On September 22, 2015, the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries(CPAFFC), and the California State Government co-hosted the Third China-U.S. Governors Forum at Seattle, Washington State of the United States, with the theme of “Clean Energy and Economic Development” . Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is on a state visit to the U.S., attended the Forum and delivered an important speech. The key participants to this Forum include Wang Dongming, party secretary of Sichuan Provincial CPC Committee, Wang Anshun, mayor of Beijing, Huang Qifan, mayor of Chongqing, Li Qiang, governor of Zhejiang Province, Guo Shuqing, governor of Shandong Province, Lou Qinjian, governor of Shaanxi Province, Li Xiaolin, president of the CPAFFC, as well as California State Governor Jerry Brown, Washington  State Governor Jay Inslee, Michigan State Governor Rick Snyder, Iowa State Governor Terry Branstad, and Oregon State Governor Kate Brown. The two sides held fruitful exchanges on the cooperation of economy and trade, climate change, energy and environmental protection between the two countries at the sub-national level.

Wang Dongming said, China and US issued a joint announcement on climate change last year, upgrading energy and climate change to strategic level. Its implementation relies on the local government of the two countries. This forum has provided a great opportunity for the subnational cooperation on green and low-carbon industries. Sichuan is willing to work with the US on clean energy and low-carbon development, actively promoting the building of the major country relations between the two countries.

Wang Anshun said, like other megapolises, Beijing is facing the severe challenges of population, resources and environment during its rapid development. In recent years, Beijing has made remarkable achievements in enhancing clean energy development while developing its economy. Seeing the 2022 Winter Olympics as a great opportunity, Beijing is making every effort to build a green and low-carbon city.

Huang Qifan said, in recent years, Chongqing has been comprehensively promoting new industrialization, informationization, urbanization, agricultural modernization and greenization, striving for a green, recyclable and low-carbon development. Chongqing hopes to cooperate with US states in new-energy automobile development, shale gas economic and technological cooperation and environmental industry and technology, contributing to the protection of the homeland planet for mankind.

Li Qiang said, China is now researching and making the thirteenth five-year plan, highlight the issue of clean energy and low-carbon development. In the next 5 years, Zhejiang will raise 5 billion US dollars on its research and development, hoping to expand economic and technological cooperation with the US in clean energy and low-carbon development.

Guo Shuqing said, US states boast advanced technology and management experience in the development of new energy, the protection of biological environment and the development of low-carbon economy, while Shangdong is huge market for energy saving and environment protection industries, hoping the two sides exchange and cooperate through various channels, at various levels and in various forms.

Lou Qinjian said, addressing climate change and promoting low-carbon development is the shared responsibility of the whole world. Shaanxi has initiated an active effort, hoping to strengthen technological and management cooperation in relative area with the US.

Jerry Brown said, no pair of relations is as important as US-China relations. Joint efforts between the two countries can curb the deterioration of many global issues. Sub-national cooperation between the two countries can provide real opportunity for cooperation in trade&economics, education, scientific research, energy and environment. Both sides should work together to address climate change, realizing low-carbon development. California boasts new concepts and successful experiences in these areas and is willing to work with Chinese provinces towards this target.

Rick Snyder said, trade, economic and cultural ties based on friendship and mutual trust are the core elements in ensuring the long-term stability of China-US relations. Michigan are among the top US states in creating jobs in new manufacturing. Agriculture is another key area for cooperation with China. He had made five trips to China in five years since he took office. He also planned to visit China every year, strengthening cooperation with China. He anticipated more events like this, hoping more US governors be part of it.

Terry Branstad said he’s honored to have been at the forum for three years. This forum provided a good opportunity for both sides to share successful experiences in energy consumption and economic development, benefiting people of both countries. With its advantages in agriculture, renewable energy production and utilization, manufacturing and finance, Iowa is willing to strengthen ties with China to realize economic development and win-win cooperation.

Kate Brown said, Oregon is among top US states in clean energy development. Developing clean energy can provide a green, healthy living environment for people, benefiting one generation after another. Environment protection and economic development do not contradict each other. The best and most simplified investment is energy efficiency. A low-carbon future will not only promote economic development, but also bring development opportunities for every nation. Oregon hopes to enhance cooperation with China. 

During the Forum, the two sides held six one-on-one talks, and signed the U.S.-China Governors’ Accord on Clean Energy and Economic Development. This is a positive response of the sub-national level to the China-U.S. Joint Statement on Climate Change, which was issued by the two countries in November, 2014.

The China-U.S. Governors Forum was established by the two state leaders in 2011. Since then, five forums or dialogues have been held in the two countries, with key participants of 26 party secretaries or governors from Chinese provinces (municipalities or autonomous regions), and 33 American governors. The Forum played an active role in promoting practical cooperation between the two countries, in broad areas such as economy and trade, energy, environment, science and technology, and others.