In furtherance of U.S.-China subnational cooperation, the Office of the Special Representative for Global Intergovernmental Affairs and Hanscom Smith, Economic Counselor, U.S. Embassy Beijing, participated in the 36th Annual Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers in Burlington, VT. A Chinese delegation participated in the conference, including Zhang Jianxin, Vice Governor, Heilong Province, Madame Li Xioalin, President, Chinese People’s Association for Friendship for Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), CEOs and entrepreneurs. The delegation met with U.S. Governors Peter Shumlin (VT), Dannel Malloy (CT), Lincoln Chafee (RI), and Deval Patrick (MA).
This was the first regional meeting of New England governors with a Chinese provincial leaders. All parties pledged to continue to promote and expand subnational cooperation at the regional level. Governors Shumlin and Patrick plan to lead delegations to China later in 2012.
