Gov. Gregoire, trade delegation arrive in China

For Immediate Release: September 15, 2010

OLYMPIA � Gov. Chris Gregoire and a delegation of leaders in business, agriculture, education and clean energy arrived in China, and have kicked off their 11-day trade mission to expand export opportunities, encourage new investment and create new jobs in Washington state.

�It was a long flight to Beijing, but I�m happy to be back in China,� Gregoire said. �I have a great group of representatives here with me who are as anxious as I am to seek new opportunities for our businesses, our growers and our educational institutions. They know, like I do, how important this trip is to Washington state and its economic recovery. With one in three Washington jobs tied to trade, the benefits of this trip are clear.�

Along with expanding trade opportunities, Gregoire is using this trade mission to encourage a stronger partnership between higher education institutions in Washington state and Asia. Gregoire was pleased on Wednesday to witness the signing of several agreements that will help attract new students to Washington state, as well as open new educational opportunities.

�By providing our students here at home with access to the world�s best instructors and programs, we ensure we have the highly trained workforce our state needs to be competitive in the 21st century economy. We also provide our students with more opportunities to learn about cultures and languages that give our state a greater understanding of the world that will serve us in the future,� Gregoire said. �At the same time, these agreements attract more foreign students to Washington state � attracting new dollars to be circulated through our economy at our local grocery stores, our coffee shops and other small businesses.�

Each year, about 1,800 students from China study in Washington state colleges and universities, while more than 6,000 Washington students study in foreign countries.

Today�s agreements involved Shoreline Community College, Saint Martin�s University and Washington State University � and foster relationships that encourage the exchange of top graduate level students to address agricultural needs and develop new technologies, as well as new opportunities for foreign students to earn teaching degrees.

�This trip is specifically about driving our research efforts in clean energy, agriculture and engineering,� said Dr. Howard Grimes, WSU vice president for research and dean of the graduate school. �We�re confident this will lead to recruiting some of the best and brightest minds to WSU as top level researchers and PhD. students.�

Gregoire on Wednesday also met with China�s Vice Premier Wang Qishan to promote exchanges of trade, tourism, investment and culture and education.

Additionally, Gregoire and the trade delegation on Wednesday:

� Spoke with Mr. Wan Jefei, the chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, and signed an agreement to promote trade and investment;

� Delivered remarks at a forum showcasing Grant County and its development of clean energy projects; and

� Attended a Washington state tourism event, promoting inbound tourism development from China to Washington state.

For a complete itinerary and to read the governor�s travel journal, visit: www.governor.wa.gov and click on the link to the governor�s online travel notes.