by Julia Pierrepont III, Tan Jingjing, Gao Shan
LOS ANGELES, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Despite sluggish global economic growth and lingering political uncertainties, business leaders and officials in California, the most populous and economically the largest state of the United States, hold their dedication to stronger cooperation with China.
Stephen Cheung, president and CEO of Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation and president of World Trade Center Los Angeles, told Xinhua that mutually-advantageous trade between China and California has been driven by "sharing innovation, investments, and the mutual desire to see our communities thrive."
"For Los Angeles, as a major gateway for U.S. and international commerce, the partnership between China and California continues to be one of our most valuable global relationships," he said.
Eugene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, told Xinhua that the relationship between California and China extends beyond port trade to tourism, investment and employment.
He noted that stable U.S.-China relations are important for global supply chain stability and international trade confidence. "Every four containers that come through our port creates a job right here at home in Los Angeles and helps build the world's economies."
Matt Henderson, principal fluid representative of California Dairies Inc., California's leading farmer-owned dairy cooperative, said China's growing middle class is driving rising demand for products such as butter, cheese and cream. At the same time, U.S. producers are capable of supplying high-quality and safe dairy products that meet Chinese consumers' demand.
The two economies remain highly complementary, he said. "When China and the United States work together, it strengthens the entire global economy."
On China-California cooperation, he said California enjoys unique advantages due to its geographic location and long-standing ties with China. Shipping goods from California to Shanghai, China, takes only about 16 days by sea, and mutual understanding between California and China remains relatively strong.
"One inspiration we should take from China is their ability to build what their people need, and what our planet needs to move forward sustainably -- their innovations and progress in reaching zero carbon, and their green technology for communities and cities," said Libby Schaaf, president and CEO of the Bay Area Council and former mayor of Oakland, California.
"Nobody is able to do skilled manufacturing at scale as quickly as China. If China is willing to invest some of that manufacturing know-how and some of that capacity into the U.S., that could be significant," said Kevin Klowden, co-chair of the Los Angeles Regional Export Council and chief global strategist at the Milken Institute. ■
