In this file photo taken on July 6, 2018 Containers are stacked on a vessel at the Port of Long Beach in Long Beach, California, including some from China Shipping, a conglomerate under the direct administration of China's State Council. (Xinhua/AFP)
SAN FRANCISCO, July 20 (Xinhua) -- Officials of the western U.S. state of California Friday voiced their commitment to maintaining strong relationships with China despite the trade tension between Washington and Beijing.
California Governor Jerry Brown said in a video message for a farewell reception hosted by Chinese Consul General in San Francisco Luo Linquan Friday evening that California has maintained a productive relationship with China.
"We've built a harmonious and productive relationship between China and California," he said.
Brown said he valued the opportunities to "entertain Chinese visitors to work on our mutual goals of reducing climate pollution, (and) of building clean energy technologies."
The California governor has been an enthusiastic advocate for the cooperation with China on climate change and green energy strategy as the Golden State views China as a valuable export market, a source of new investment and an innovation collaborator.
"Never have the relationships between Chinese leaders, and Chinese companies, Chinese government officials and their counterparts in California been better," Brown said.
London Breed, the first African-American female mayor of San Francisco, who took office last Wednesday, told the audience at the reception that the Chinese side has supported fostering good, strong relationships "between our city with businesses to develop economic development opportunities in our communities."
She promised to continue to foster and grow the relationships with the next Chinese consul general in the near future.
Fiona Ma, a member of the California State Board of Equalization, praised Luo for making great efforts to build a friendship between China and California.
"In this time of trade war, I am grateful to have someone like Consul General Luo to bring diplomacy and common sense to our state. I agree with the consul general's message that there is no winner in a trade war," she said.
"Here in California, just like in China, our small business owners, farmers and wineries are all being hurt because of what is going on in (Washington) D.C.," she said.
Ma was referring to a trade spat U.S. President Donald Trump's administration started by slapping extra tariffs on a massive amount of Chinese products. China has vowed to defend its legitimate rights and the international free trade order.
California enjoyed great friendly international relationships, Ma said. "My office hosts international students from China that are attending college in the U.S., where we provide them with exposure on how the state government operates, work experience and research projects," she said.
Luo, who will complete his term of office in San Francisco later this month, said China greatly attaches importance to developing its relations with the United States.
Although there are some differences between the two sides over trade, China and the United States both have the ability and wisdom to address their differences in a constructive manner, properly address each other's concerns, and stabilize the overall sound China-U.S. relationship, if the two parties follow a spirit of non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and the pursuit of win-win results, Luo said.
"China will never close its open door to the outside world," he said, adding that China will steadfastly adhere to the path of peaceful development, and firmly pursue an open strategy based on mutual benefit and win-win results.
China will always act as a builder of world peace, and a player that contributes to global development and follows the path of a new international order, Luo said.
The China-U.S. relations concern not only the well-being of both peoples, but also world peace, stability and prosperity, he said. "Cooperation is the only viable choice for China and the United States," Luo said.
Also, Luo said he hopes both China and the United States will work to move in the same direction for a better future.
