Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - October 1, 1997
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Gov. Locke leads trade and cultural mission to Japan, China and Hong Kong

OLYMPIA - Gov. Gary Locke leads his first international mission since taking office with visits to Japan, China and Hong Kong, Oct. 1-12. Gov. Locke will focus on building leader-to-leader relationships and strengthening trade, cultural and educational ties with Asia.

"Opportunities for increased trade with Asia are so great the new century is being called the Pacific Rim Century," said Locke. "Washington holds a front row seat as Asian markets rapidly expand. Building relationships with Asia will build more jobs at home and help our economy grow."

The governor is traveling at the official invitation of the governments of Japan and China, two of Washington's most important trading partners. His official party includes Washington's Director of Agriculture, Jim Jesernig, the Director of Community, Trade and Economic Development, Tim Douglas, and the Executive Director of the Washington China Relations Council, Joe Borich.

A Washington delegation of 22 business, education and community representatives will travel with the governor. Among them are Washington State Sen. Alex Deccio-R, Yakima, representatives of Washington ports, higher education institutions, the agriculture industry and several other state businesses.

During the trip, the governor will meet with representatives of Washington companies with permanent offices in China including Weyerhaeuser, Microsoft, John Fluke Manufacturing and Seattle law firm Davis Wright Tremaine.

Washington is a national leader in trade-oriented benefits linked to international trade. Export production is the fastest growing sector of the state's economy. One in four jobs is tied to world markets, the highest rate per capita of any state in the nation.

Japan is Washington's number one export partner, purchasing 22 percent of all state exports. Japan's purchases totaled $6.5 billion in 1996.

China is Washington's sixth largest export market and Washington products account for 13 percent of all U.S. exports to China. State exports to China increased 39 percent in 1995 and again last year to a 1996 value of $1.6 billion. Exports of Washington products to Hong Kong increased 36 percent last year for a total of $967 million.

Besides traditionally exported goods such as aerospace, agriculture and forest products, service industry exports, such as software, professional services and tourism, now account for about one fourth of Washington's total export value.

Gov. Locke's first stop will be Tokyo followed by Beijing, Chengdu and Shanghai in China and a stop in Hong Kong. The two-week International Mission will conclude with a short, personal visit to the governor's ancestral village, Jilong, Guangdong Province, in southern China.

"My hope is this trip will reinforce the message our state very much values good relations with Japan and China," said Locke. "Washington is a state of very diverse people with many cultural and economic ties to Asia dating back well into the last century. Strengthening those ties will benefit people on both sides of the Pacific."

The governor will visit Washington's trade office in Shanghai that opened in March 1997. It is the first state trade office officially registered with the Chinese government. Michigan and Maryland are the only other states to have trade offices in China.

"Our one-day shipping advantage over other West Coast ports and our new Shanghai trade office are important to Washington's strategic position in world trade markets," Locke pointed out. "These business ties and our growing cultural and educational friendships are important to our state's people and our children's future."

Other highlights of the governor's International Mission include visits to the Beijing Air Show and stops at the job sites of a Weyerhaeuser box factory; a Tim's Cascade Potato Chips production line; and the construction site of a building designed by Seattle's Callison Architecture firm.

Gov. Locke will travel to the state's sister state, Sichuan Province, where he will visit children at Shi Shi school, the oldest continuously operating school in the world. He also will meet a Snohomish High School teacher who is at Shi Shi school as part of an educational exchange program.

While in Sichuan Province, the governor will view ancient bronze statues and artifacts that will be seen for the first time in the United States at the Seattle Art Museum in 2001. The Seattle Art Museum and the cultural office of Sichuan are cosponsoring an unprecedented U.S. tour of the works that will include the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

"Cultural and educational exchanges like the ones we've established between our state and China build bridges of understanding among people," Locke said. "It is relationships like these that secure Washington's place in the global community."

The last few hours of Gov. Locke's Asian travels will be set aside for a short trip to his father's ancestral village, Jilong, Guangdong Province. The governor's wife, parents, sisters and brother will meet him in Hong Kong and travel together to visit his father's birthplace, the home of his great uncle and the ancestral graveyard. The governor's family will pay for their own expenses. The governor will pay his expenses for the visit to Jilong.

School children will be able to follow Gov. Locke's International Mission through the governor's web site. The governor invites children to learn more about Asian geography and culture by viewing maps, photos and articles posted on his web site.

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