Director General Zhang Heqiang of American and Oceanian Affairs met with Director Kristopher Sanchez of International Trade of Nevada on March 12, 2015.

Director General Zhang made a brief introduction of the ongoing NPC and CPPCC sessions, emphasizing that having entered an important stage of comprehensively deepening reform and advancing law-based governance, China will interconnect with the rest of world closer than ever. China’s development and huge market will bring more opportunities to the US and other countries in the world. The CPAFFC has long been committed to promoting and expanding China-US sub-national exchanges and cooperation. The China-US Governors Forum, annual programs of elected US state and local officials and sister-city program have played very positive roles in this regard. Nevada, an important state in American west, pointed out by Zhang, may set a leading example for the rest of regional states in strengthening ties with China.

Director Sanchez said, with US economic recovery taking hold, Nevada is garnering sound economic momentum with greater demands for international cooperation. China lies in the priority of its foreign relations. At the invitation of the CPAFFC, Governor Sandoval made his groundbreaking visit to China in 2012, which was also the first overseas mission by a Nevada governor in the state’s nearly 150-year history. Director Sanchez himself attended the Second China-US Governors Forum held by the CPAFFC in Tianjin in 2013, which left him a deep impression. According to Sanchez, Governor Sandoval plans to head a high-ranking delegation to visit China this year during his capacity as President of the Council of State Governments. The mission will focus on further deepening exchanges and cooperation for Nevada and other US states with China.