Top Chinese diplomat meets California governor

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Gavin Newsom, the governor of the U.S. state of California, in Beijing on Wednesday. 

The meeting took place during Newsom’s week-long visit to China.

California has nurtured a longstanding, amicable, and cooperative relationship with China, Wang said, adding that San Francisco, renowned in China, was the birthplace of the first Chinatown in the United States.

The governor’s trip to China can be characterized as a quest to strengthen the foundations of China-U.S. relations, sow seeds of hope, and chart a course toward a promising future, Wang said.

Time and facts will prove this visit is in line with the aspirations of Californians, the interests of the American people, and the expectations of the global community, he said.

Wishing this visit a resounding success, Wang said he expects it to elevate collaboration between China and California to new heights, foster deeper understanding between the Chinese and American people, and assume a pivotal and constructive role in the enhancement and promotion of China-U.S. relations.

China will continue to adhere to the three fundamental principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation, promoting the healthy, stable, and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations, Wang said.

Newsom said the purpose of his trip to China is for peace, cooperation and friendship. 

As the first U.S. governor to visit China in four years, Newsom expects this visit to mark the beginning of a new chapter in local exchanges and cooperation between the United States and China, he said.

California and China have shared historical ties and deep connections, and will continue to closely intertwine with one another in the future, Newsom said.

He said decoupling between the U.S. and China is not a rational choice, and anti-Asian sentiments must be opposed.

“We appreciate China’s remarkable achievements in global development and are pleased to see China’s continued success,” Newsom said. “Regardless of how circumstances evolve, California will remain a reliable partner for China.”

(Cover: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) meets with Gavin Newsom, the governor of the U.S. state of California, in Beijing, China, October 25, 2023. /CGTN)