The three-day event in Beijing, China will be held on Oct. 18 to 20, and Fitial said it will be a follow-up meeting since to the first U.S.-China governors forum in Utah last July.
The other U.S. governors attending the forum are National Governors Association chairman Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire, Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal, Guam Gov. Eddie Calvo, Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie and North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue.
The purpose of the forum is to bring the two countries together at the governors’ level through the NGA and the Chinese People’s Associations for Friendship with Foreign Countries, said Fitial who is leaving with Press Secretary Angel A. Demapan.
Fitial said the forum was established to strengthen a “sub-national dialogue” between U.S. and China. It serves as a “platform to promote peer-to-peer discussions between U.S. governors and Chinese provincial leaders about topics of mutual interest and to explore opportunities in promoting practical cooperation between the two sides.”
“So for us, I think this is the best thing that ever happened because I was able to meet with Chinese governors. And I invited them to visit CNMI so they can see what they like. And hopefully invest in what they like. I promised that I will visit them and they also promised that they will visit us,” Fitial said.
The meeting in Beijing, he added, will be an opportunity for him to meet again with the same governors he met in Utah and continue their discussion on economic collaboration, especially in tourism.
“If we want to see job and economic growth in the commonwealth, then we have to work closely with our international partners who have thriving economies. The Forum provides a tremendous opportunity to explore job creation opportunities and build greater economic ties abroad that seeks to benefit us all for the future,” Fitial said.
He wants the dialogues to be not only about traditional business relationships, but also “air service, energy innovation, tourism and cultural exchanges.”
Fitial said the Chinese governors are interested in farming.
Press Secretary Angel A. Demapan said U.S. Ambassador to China Gary Locke is expected to host a reception for the governors.
Earlier this year, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi signed a memorandum of understanding supporting the establishment of a U.S.-China Governors Forum in Utah last summer.
