Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - February 28, 1997
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Secretary of State Munro to represent Gov. Locke at opening of new trade office in Shanghai

OLYMPIA - Gov. Gary Locke today announced that Secretary of State Ralph Munro will represent Washington next week at the official opening ceremony of the new U.S. Department of Commerce's Commercial Center in Shanghai, China. The Washington State International Trade Development office is located within this new facility.

The governor said the Shanghai office will further improve trade opportunities for Washington businesses looking for international trading partners.

"Commercial ties between Washington and China are growing rapidly, and our office is designed to help Washington businesses get access to this increasingly important market," Locke said.

During his visit, Munro will participate with the U.S. Dept. of Commerce Undersecretary Stuart Eizenstat in the opening ceremony and plans to meet with numerous senior Chinese and Shanghai municipal officials.

"This is another important step in our trade development program with the People's Republic of China," said Munro, who has represented the state in a number of trade and cultural missions to China. "This trade office will be a valuable asset for Washington state businesses seeking to develop contacts and establish trading relationships in China."

Washington's representative in Shanghai is Renren Zhang, a native of Shanghai who attended the University of Washington during his graduate study. Zhang will work with Chinese officials to secure market access and get trading opportunities for Washington goods and services in China.

Zhang has been laying the ground work for opening the office since November. Sponsored by both the state Department of Agriculture and the state Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development, Zhang will work on opening more trade opportunities for Washington businesses.

"I am extremely encouraged by the reception I have received from the Chinese government during the start-up phase of the office," Zhang said. "Once we are fully operational, we will be working to position Washington businesses to develop their market potential in China into the next millennium."

The Washington state trade office will be located in the Shanghai Center/Portman Hotel Complex in the center of the city's business district. Situated at the mouth of the Yangtze River in China's southeastern region, Shanghai is China's largest city and financial capitol. It has a population of 13 million and is a major port city, providing an excellent opportunity for Washington's shipping interests.

In 1995, exports from Washington to China exceeded $1.6 billion. Currently, nearly 23,000 Washington residents are directly employed by companies growing and manufacturing products for the Chinese market. This number does not include port, warehouse, transportation or distribution jobs in the state that are tied to imports from China.

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