China Trip Bolsters International Ties
Governor Lingle's trip to China has focused on building on the State's strategic efforts to strengthen Hawai`i's economic base by tapping China's growing outbound tourism market as well as developing opportunities and partnerships in clean energy and international trade.
Governor Lingle; Kelvin Bloom, chair, Hawai`i Tourism Authority; Ted Liu, director, DBEDT; and Hawai`i Tourism China participate in a media roundtable with Chinese travel and leisure writers and news journalists to promote Hawai`i as a travel destination.
ENCOURAGING TRAVEL TO HAWAI`I
As part of her focus on maximizing opportunities for Chinese tourists to travel to Hawai`i, Governor Lingle is meeting with key China travel leaders this week.
On Monday, Governor Lingle, DBEDT Director Ted Liu; Office of Planning Executive Director Abbey Mayer; and Tina Yao, Hawai`i Tourism China met with Mr. Chen Feng, founder chairman of the board of Hainan Airlines and Vice President Chen Ming to discuss the first scheduled nonstop airline service between China and Hawai`i, which is expected to start next year.
Chen shared that Governor Lingle's trip was critical in expressing Hawai`i's support for Hainan Airlines' direct flights to Honolulu and said the airline is currently planning to fly two flights per week.
Governor Lingle advised Chen of her several recent meetings regarding this direct air service, including one with U.S. Ambassador Huntsman, and discussed the need to significantly increase Hawai`i's visitor industry marketing in China and the training of the Chinese salesforce selling Hawai`i packages.
Later this week, Governor Lingle, Ted Liu, Abbey Mayer and leaders of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawai`i will meet with Mr. Wang Yong, mayor of Sanya to discuss Hawai`i-Sanya tourism partnerships.
During meetings in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong in her first week in China, Governor Lingle led discussions with key Chinese and U.S. officials centered on two critical areas – expediting the application process for Chinese visitors traveling to the U.S. and preparing for the first nonstop scheduled airline service from China to Hawai`i.
U.S. Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman.
Governor Lingle met with Mr. Shao Qiwei, chairman of the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) to build on the progress made since Hawai`i and the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) formed a cooperative agreement to increase two-way travel between Hawai`i and China in 2005.
While in Hong Kong, Governor Lingle met with Commerce and Economic Development Secretary Rita Lau. As part of her focus on Hong Kong’s economy, the Secretary is also responsible for the tourism portfolio.
In Shanghai, Governor Lingle met with travel industry media representatives and business leaders and shared that travel to Hawai`i is a perfect complement to the intense and rapid-paced lifestyle of Shanghai and other urban Chinese cities.
On the Governor's first day in China, she met with U.S. Ambassador Jon Huntsman to continue discussions they had in Honolulu in August to ensure that obtaining a U.S. travel visa will not be an obstacle to traveling to Hawai`i or the rest of the U.S.
Ambassador Huntsman confirmed that U.S. consular offices throughout China offer scheduled appointments and set aside specific times to process group leisure travel visa applications. To facilitate last-minute travel, which is especially important for Chinese travelers who want to participate in a conference or event in Hawai`i, the embassy also offers a last-minute visa application process. In addition, at Governor Lingle’s request, the ambassador and the chief of the consular section agreed to designate a point of contact at each consulate in China with whom Hawai`i officials can work to ensure that obtaining a U.S. travel visa is not an obstacle for Chinese to travel to Hawai`i or the rest of the U.S.
The Governor's initiative to diversify Hawai`i's visitor market has attracted national attention.
James F. Smith, chief economist of Parsec Financial Management in North Carolina, said, "I think she's brilliant. You have to get the Chinese people coming to Hawai`i. They are the way of the future."
Governor Lingle with National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) Chairman of Academy of Energy, Mr. Zhou Fengqi, and Chairman Xu Kuangdi, China Academy of Engineering.
CLEAN ENERGY
As the State of Hawai`i continues to distinguish itself as a world leader in clean energy, Governor Lingle is working with clean energy leaders in China to exchange ideas on partnerships in renewable energy development and energy efficiency.
On Monday, Governor Lingle, DBEDT Director Ted Liu, Office of Planning Executive Director Abbey Mayer and leaders of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce met with Hainan National Development and Reform Commission members.
Governor Lingle met with Hainan Governor Luo Baoming and members of his Cabinet responsible for the Province's tourism, commercial, energy and agricultural sectors. The governors discussed their common goals in the achievement of a clean energy future and signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate in the development of clean and renewable energy, energy security and in the reduction of emissions.
Governor Lingle also met with Hainan Vice Governor Li Guoliang, who led a Hainan delegation to the Asia-Pacific Clean Energy Summit held in Honolulu in September of this year. Vice Governor Li agreed that Hainan will organize increased Chinese participation in next year's Summit in Hawai`i.
The Governor and Vice Governor Li discussed clean energy partnerships and investments between Hawai`i and Hainan, including Hawai`i/Hainan wind, solar and biomass projects.
During the Governor's first week in China, she met with Chairman Xu Kuangdi of the China Academy of Engineering and noted clean energy leader Zhou Fengqi.
The meeting included officials of China's National Development and Reform Commission, which has broad administrative and planning control over the Chinese economy, including formulating policies for economic and social development, restructuring China's economic system and guiding private investment.
While in Hong Kong, Governor Lingle participated in discussions with Secretary for the Environment, Edward Yao. Secretary Lau is responsible for Hong Kong's clean energy portfolio.
Governor Lingle and Secretary Lau spoke of a potential link between Hawai`i and Hong Kong as mutual "test-beds" for the integration of renewable energy and achievement of high levels of energy efficiency.
Governor Lingle and members of the Hawai`i delegation discuss importation of Hawai`i products and services to China. Seated across Governor Lingle is Chairman Shi Yonghai, China Association of International Trade.
HAWAI`I EXPORTS
Throughout the Governor's travel in China, Hawai`i products and services have been at the heart of discussions with key business leaders in hopes that the talks will lead to expanded trade opportunities between Hawai`i and China.
On Monday, Governor Lingle, DBEDT Director Ted Liu and Office of Planning Executive Director Abbey Mayer attended an event hosted by Mr. Hugo Xiong, global executive vice president of IDG Venture Capital, a global network of venture capital funds.
In addition, the Governor led a meeting between the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawai`i and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, the leading Chinese foreign trade promotion agency in China, to discuss expanding and trade and commercial activity between Hawai`i and Hainan Province.
Dennis Hwang, president of the Chinese Chamber, proposed and discussed increasing product exports between Hawai`i and Hainan, including agricultural products; selling Hawai`i's professional services in engineering, architectural and design, and energy, environmental protection and disaster planning; student exchange at high school and university levels; and increased cultural exchange, including Hainan participation in the Chamber's annual Splendor of China.
During her first week in China, Governor Lingle met with the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) office of China Import Product Solicitation and Promotion System to discuss the 'Hawai`i House' program MOFCOM is launching to promote Hawai`i products to Chinese consumers.
The Ministry recognizes that small and medium foreign businesses have barriers to their products and services entering the China market. In order to achieve better trade balance with countries such as the United States, the Ministry is launching a foreign products and services show-room and distribution center, the first one scheduled to open in Shanghai. The center would be developed and operated at no cost to the foreign companies selling into the China market.
The ministry is very interested in Hawai`i products and services, as it believes Hawai`i has a unique consumer brand. Governor Lingle learned in detail the plans for these centers and agreed to work closely with the ministry to capitalize on this opportunity for Hawai`i companies.
(CPAFFC) staff member; Ms. Li Sanghua, deputy-director, American Department, CPAFFC; Mr. Xie Yuan, director general, Americas and Oceania Division, CPAFFC; Governor Lingle; Madam Li Xiaolin, vice president, CPAFFC; Ted Liu, director, DBEDT; Bo Wu, director, DBEDT Beijing Office.
STRENGTHENING INTERNATIONAL TIES
Building on the relationships between Hawai`i and its sister provinces in China, Governor Lingle explored new opportunities for partnerships and continued close ties with Hawai`i's Asia-Pacific neighbors.
In meetings this week, Governor Lingle, state officials and Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawai`i leaders met with Governor of Guangdong Province Huang Huahua and Hainan Province Governor Luo Baoming.
Governor Luo brought with him members of his Cabinet responsible for the Province's tourism, commercial, energy and agricultural sector to discuss strengthening partnerships between Hawai`i and Guangdong in the areas of economic development, tourism, and clean energy, as well as cultural and educational exchanges.
Governor Luo also reaffirmed the importance of Hainan's relationship with Hawai`i and expressed his support for increased commercial, trade, tourism and education and cultural exchange with Hawai`i.
Hainan Airlines Chairman and Founder Chen Feng was present at this important meeting, during which Governor Luo encouraged Chen to initiate direct flights as soon as possible.
In addition, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Hawai`i and Hainan to cooperate in the development of clean and renewable energy, energy security and in the reduction of emissions.
Governor Lingle and Governor Huahua met in Guangzhou in June 2005 to mark the 20th anniversary of the Hawai`i-Guangdong sister-state/province agreement and to sign a reaffirmation agreement. They also met later that year, when Governor Huang led a delegation to Hawai`i. Also on Wednesday, the Governor will attend the opening ceremony and welcome reception in celebration of Guangdong's 30th anniversary of Guangdong Province’s sister-state/city/province relationships.
During the Governor's first week in China, she met with Madam Li Xiaolin, vice president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC). The Governor and Madam Li discussed the importance of developing relationships between countries on all levels of society, as well as the possibility of exchange programs for students from the United States and China.
