Chinese Vice President Uses Los Angeles Visit To Foster Ties With United States

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping sought to boost ties with the United States today by meeting with governors from five states, speaking at an economic forum and joining Vice President Joe Biden in a visit to a South Gate school.

Xi met with Governor Jerry Brown, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin, Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie and Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles to discuss trade and other economic issues.

Xi, who is widely expected to becomes China's next president, said he hoped to ``sow the seeds'' for more growth in trade between the nations. Brown announced at a U.S./China economic forum at the J.W. Marriott at L.A. Live his intention to form a China-California Joint Task Force to spur more collaboration, investment and trade between California and China.

``Today is really a milestone in our relationship and I want to make sure California works with provinces in China to break down barriers and increase trade and investment,'' Brown said.

In his address at the forum, Xi spoke of the cultural and historical connections between China and Los Angeles, citing the large population of Chinese here. There are 400,000 Chinese people living in the Los Angeles area, the largest number of Chinese overseas.

Xi recalled how his late father, who was a provincial governor, visited Los Angeles in 1980 and received a key to the city, and how Los Angeles was the site of the first Summer Olympics that a full Chinese team competed in since the Communist takeover in 1949. U.S.-Chinese relations have ``made some twists and turns,'' but ``over the years, we have made some headway,'' Xi said.

Building cooperation between the nations ``is the right strategic decision that serves the interests of both,'' Xi told the crowd that included former Govs. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Gray Davis, city Controller Wendy Greuel and Councilmen Eric Garcetti, Tom LaBonge and Herb Wesson.

During Xi's five-day visit to the United States, which also included stops in Washington, D.C. and Iowa, China opened its market to American auto insurance and ``taken concrete steps to enforce intellectual property rights,'' Biden said as he introduced Xi.

Hundreds of Tibetan and Falung Gong activists protested outside the hotel, along with a contingent of pro-Chinese activists who waved red Chinese flags. Biden announced late today that China has agreed to significantly increase market access for U.S.-made movies in order to resolve outstanding issues following the United States' victory in a World Trade Organization dispute.

``This agreement with China will make it easier than ever before for U.S. studios and independent filmmakers to reach the fast-growing Chinese audience, supporting thousands of American jobs in and around the film industry,'' Biden said. ``At the same time, Chinese audiences will have access to more of the finest films made anywhere in the world.''

Xi and Biden began their day by touring the International Studies Learning Center, a school in South Gate with a focus on foreign language and culture for students from sixth through 12th grades. Xi and Biden spoke to a class of students who are studying Mandarin. Xi told the students that his meetings with Biden and President Barack Obama this week been ``very fruitful.'' ``I can now say my visit to the United States has been a full success,'' Xi said.

A student asked Xi, first in Chinese, then in English what his impressions of the United States were.

"You speak wonderful Chinese,'' Xi said, then recounted his trip to Muscatine, Iowa, where he was reunited with people he initially met during a 1985 visit. The Iowans were "warm-hearted, friendly, honest and hard-working,'' then quoted a Chinese saying, "New clothes are the best, but old friends are also the best.''

Xi concluded his two-day visit by joining Brown and Villaraigosa in a box at Staples Center watching the Los Angeles Lakers defeat the Phoenix Suns, 111-99. Xi's visit was the first to Los Angeles by a high-level Chinese official in 13 years.