Consul general and governor, old friends in California, bid farewell

Friendship can transcend any differences.

China's top diplomat in San Francisco Luo Linquan and California Governor Jerry Brown met for the umpteenth time on July 11.

Unlike previous meetings — when they would discuss matters of national and state-level importance concerning politics, the economy and trade — this get-together was solely for the two old friends to bid each other farewell.

Having served his term for three years and eight months, Luo will leave for China in late July. He hosted the farewell at his residence rather than the consulate compound, where their meetings usually took place.

Brown has set a record in terms of relationship-building with Luo by attending iconic events sponsored by the consulate. Brown stood side-by-side with Luo at three Chinese Lunar New Year receptions in three consecutive years since 2016, and two China National Day celebrations.

"This (Brown's attendance record) has never, ever happened with any other country's diplomatic outreach," said Ren Faqiang, deputy consul general. "The reason is obvious — Governor Brown understands and cherishes California's relationship with China, personally and on the state level."

The reasons are obvious. China remains California's third-largest trading partner and leading source of foreign direct investment.

In 2017, California exported $16.4 billion worth of goods to China, third only to Mexico and Canada. Investors from China are a leading source of foreign direct investment in the state.

International trade and foreign investment are key components of the state's $2.6 trillion economy, supporting more than 4 million jobs. California leads the nation in export-related jobs, according to the California Assembly's committee on jobs and economic development.

Chinese investments in real estate and other areas have created jobs for Americans, said Ren.

The Commercial Bank of China has 133 employees in offices on the West Coast, 130 of whom are US citizens. The Oceanwide Center construction project, expected to be the second-tallest building in San Francisco when completed, created more than 1,000 construction-related jobs and is expected to create another 1,000 management-related jobs when the mixed-use building is put into operation.

"That's hard evidence that shows the connections between China and California are manifold and multilateral," Ren said.

On Feb 9 at the consulate's reception to observe the Chinese New Year of the Dog, Luo called Brown to the podium, introducing him as "an old and true friend of China".

"We live in a world of great opportunity but also great danger," Brown told the crowd, briefly recapping his meeting with China's President Xi Jinping during his five-day trip to China in the summer of 2017.

Brown secured climate-change agreements to reduce carbon emissions and promote clean energy. "If we don't, California literally will be burning up. And China will be strangling on its own pollution. … We have a common threat, we have common technologies, and we need to do common research."

He also recognized the contributions Chinese immigrants have made to the prosperity and development of California. "When my great-great-grandfather came here in 1852, there were already Chinese here," he said.

"Temporarily in Washington, there are people who don't like immigrants so much, but they don't represent California, or should I say, he doesn't represent California," Brown added.

"I treasured the good working relationship and profound personal friendship with Consul General Luo," said Brown on July 11.

The people-to-people friendship, and beyond, is believed to continue.

Contact the writer at junechang@chinadailyusa.com