September 21, 2014 - SAN FRANCISCO - Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today signed an agreement to establish a sister state/province relationship between California and the Guangdong Province of China and pledged to strengthen ties with the province on trade, technological innovation, clean energy, low carbon development, education and tourism.
Last year - during the Governor's Trade and Investment Mission to China - Governor Brown visited Guangdong's capital city of Guangzhou, where he committed to forge a stronger relationship with China's most populous and economically productive province.
The agreement builds on more than a year and a half of significant diplomatic and business exchanges between California and China, including a climate change agreement with China's National Development and Reform Commission, the Trade and Investment Mission to China, the opening of the California-China Office of Trade and Investment in Shanghai and a meeting with China's President Xi Jinping. Partnership on climate change was one of many subjects the Governor discussed with President Xi and a key component of the trade mission, which included a first-of-its-kind agreement with China's Minister of Environmental Protection, a meeting with officials from the National Development and Reform Commission and remarks on climate change at Tsinghua University in Beijing.
The agreement signed today is copied below:
Agreement to Establish Sister State/Province Relationship between the State of California of the United States of America and Guangdong Province of the People's Republic of China
The State of California of the United States of America and Guangdong Province of the People's Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as 'both State and Province'),
Following the Memorandum of Understanding on the Friendly Exchanges and Cooperation between the State of California of the United States of America and Guangdong Province of the People's Republic of China signed on 15th April 2013 in Guangzhou,
Considering the importance of enhancing the mutual understanding and friendship between American and Chinese People,
Believing that developing a close State-Province partnership will be beneficial to the social and economic prosperity of both State and Province,
Pursuant to The Three Joint Communiqués and other agreements between the United States of America and the People's Republic of China,
Have agreed, through friendly consultations, to enter into Sister State/Province Relationship.
I. According to the principle of equality and mutual benefits, both State and Province will proactively push for the growth of two-way trade and investment by leveraging their advantages and complementary industries, technologies and market opportunities. There will also be joint commitment to concrete initiatives in areas including but not limited to science and technological innovation, low-carbon development, environment conservation, clean energy, education, training, tourism and cultural exchange.
II. Leaders and designated organizations for liaison of both State and Province will keep in touch for timely and effective communications on matters related to the State-Province collaboration or of common interest. Both State and Province will work to ensure that relevant government departments, business sectors, education institutions and research institutes are appropriately engaged in the concrete cooperation in the fore-mentioned areas.
This agreement shall come into force on the day of signing by representatives of both governments. It will be valid for five years, and remain in force unless either side proposes to terminate it.
Signed in San Francisco on the Twenty-First day of September, 2014, this agreement is written in English and Chinese languages, both in duplicate and deemed equally authentic.
Edmund G. Brown
Governor of the State of California
The United States of America
Zhu Xiaodan
Governor of Guangdong Province
The People's Republic of China