Video – National Governors Association U.S.-China Governors Forum, Salt Lake City, Utah

Below is a link to the C-SPAN coverage of the opening of the NGA U.S.-China  Governors Forum held in Salt Lake City, Utah, at The Grand America Hotel, July 14-17, 2011.

C-SPAN was one of the approved media outlets that was allowed in to cover this event.  Some America media was barred from attending, while China Daily and other Chinese media were allowed instead.

http://www.c-spanarchives.com/program/SChinaG

Washington Governor Christine Gregoire is the chairman of the NGA and introduces this U.S.-China Governors Forum.

Interestingly enough, Reta Jo Lewis, representing the State Department, who presents greetings from the President to the forum, is the same person whose office had to be contacted to get a copy of the missing MOU Creating the U.S. China Governors Forum.  She was the spokesperson for the MOU, yet did not have the MOU and really didn’t know who had a copy.

Those Government jobs – aren’t they great?

OK Governor Mary Fallin Going to NGA Conference in Utah – Will She Attend the U.S.-China Forum?

Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin has confirmed she is going to attend the National Governors Association meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah on July 14-16, 2011. A  Media Advisory, issued by her office on July 8, 2011 confirmed her attendance.

Fallin is a member of the NGA’s Economic Development and Commerce Committee.

This NGA event is to feature the first meeting of the U.S.-China Governors Forum, created by a MOU in January, and signed by Sec. of State Hillary Clinton.

However, a contact in the Governor’s office today told a constituent that, although she will be attending the “main meeting”,  the Governor “has not yet decided” on whether she will be attending the U.S.-China Forum.

Since the intent of the NGA’s Economic Development and Commerce committee is to seek more foreign direct investment in the states, it seems unlikely that Fallin would not attend the U.S.-China Forum.

From the Econ. Dev. and Commerce Committee’s May Briefing:

“Attracting Foreign Direct Investment into the States
On May 17, 2011, the NGA Economic Development and Commerce Committee hosted a briefing for governors’ staff about the role of foreign direct investment from the perspective of U.S. subsidiaries of foreign parent companies. Topics discussed included how to recruit investment, tax challenges, conflict-of-laws and the importance of physical infrastructure to global competitiveness. Panelists: Tom Langan, director of U.S. government relations and public affairs, Unilever (NGA Corporate Fellow); Nancy McLernon, president and CEO, Organization for International Investment (OFII); and, John Lettieri, senior director of public policy and government affairs, OFII. Audio link (mp3)“

Below is the Media Advisory issued July 8, 2011.

From: Alex Gerszewski <Alex.Gerszewski@gov.ok.gov>
Subject: MEDIA ADVISORY: Governor Mary Fallin Press Itinerary for the Week of July 10 (Attachment)
To:
Date: Friday, July 8, 2011, 3:02 PM

OFFICE OF GOVERNOR MARY FALLIN MEDIA CONTACTS: Alex Weintz, Communications Director Alex.Weintz@gov.ok.gov (405) 522-8819 Aaron Cooper, Press Secretary Aaron.Cooper@gov.ok.gov (405) 522-8878

---

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 8, 2011

*** Media Advisory ***

Governor Mary Fallin Press Itinerary for the Week of July 10

 

OKLAHOMA CITY – The following is a list of events at which Governor Mary Fallin will appear the week of July 10. Please note:  while the following events are open to the media, they are not necessarily open to the public.

 

Sunday, July 10

5:30 to 7p.m. – Four Star Debate with Gen. Tommy Franks. This event is a kick-off of a weeklong leadership program for high school students at the Governor’s Pavilion on the Governor’s mansion grounds (820 NE 23^rd St). At approximately 5:30 pm, General Tommy Franks will introduce Governor Fallin, who will give welcoming remarks and talk about the principles of leadership. Secretary of Veterans Affairs General Rita Aragon will also be speaking. Media wishing to attend must RSVP to press@gov.ok.gov with the names of those attending. Parking is available at Gate 104, East of Lincoln Avenue (see attached map for details).  

 

Tuesday, June 12

4 to 6 p.m. – Grand opening and ribbon cutting at the Ponca City University Center at 2800 N. 14^th St. Ponca City, OK. At approximately 4:20 Governor Fallin will speak on the importance of higher education and the benefits of the new facility.

 

Wednesday, July 13 through Sunday, July 17

Governor Fallin will be attending the National Governor’s Association Annual Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. Governors from across the country will gather to discuss state’s role in supporting education, fostering innovation and increasing competitiveness during the 103^rd annual meeting of the National Governors Association (NGA).

UPDATE! Now 2 Videos – U.S. Governors Selling Us to China

Recently, OK-SAFE had the opportunity to interview award-winning investigative reporter, researcher, and analyst Vince Wade on America in the Balance.  (Link here.)

This followed our of interview of Prof. William “Bill” Kauffman, retired, Department of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Michigan, who re-counted some of the university’s activities with regard to the Chinese – including the sharing of sensitive defense technology.

Both are contributors to a site we all should become familiar with – http://www.china-threat.com.

Vince has produced the first two in a series of three videos dealing with the “Chinafication” of America – the first, entitled U.S. Governors Selling Us to China,  is now at this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kaUcwy27Ck

This particular video highlights the National Governors Association’s first U.S.-China Governors Forum to be held this week in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The second video, entitled U.S. Governors- The Great American Sellout, is now available at this link: http://www.youtube.com/user/vincewadeusa1?blend=3&ob=5#p/u/0/nO1ROoDcfFw

Are you asking the right questions of your governor about their intentions with Chinese investment in your state?

Sleeping with the Enemy – U.S. Governors to Pair Up with Chinese Officials

OK-SAFE 6/6/11 – U.S. Governors will be saying more than “Ni hau” (Hello)  to Chinese party officials at an upcoming National Governors Association (NGA) meeting.

The U.S. – China Governors Forum, scheduled for July 15-17, 2011 in Salt Lake City, Utah, is set to include one-on-one pairing of U.S. Governors with Chinese provincial party secretaries and Governors.  The pairings, called “peer-to-peer exchanges,” aim to “strengthen bilateral cooperation.” Topics are to include items of “mutual interest,”  i. e. “job creation, education, health and economic cooperation.”

A second session will take place in China in late 2011 or early 2012.

This forum is the result of a Memorandum of Understanding concerning the establishment of the U.S.-China Governors Forum to Promote Sub-National Cooperation, signed by Sen. of State Hillary Clinton on January 19, 2011.

Secretary Clinton shakes hands with the Chinese foreign minister after the memorandum of understanding signing, 1/19/2011
Photo Source: U.S. Dept. of State

The Governors Forum will be held behind close doors.

[See researcher Vicky Davis’  excellent article on this meeting, entitled “Quislings to Collaborate with Communist Chinese.”]

The collaboration is indicative of the deepening U.S. involvement with the Chinese government, particularly at the sub-national (state and local) level.

Increased Agreements

At the Third Round of the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue held in May 2011 the U.S. and China agreed to 48 strategic outcomes, including “further cooperation between U.S. and Chinese enterprises and institutions on healthcare, disaster response, and smart grids.”

The Rhodium Group, (RHG) has a China Investment Monitor map, indicating that between 2003-2010 there were 230 deals between states and China, totaling $11.7 Billion in “greenfield and acquisition” investments. This includes Oklahoma.

Oklahoma

According to The Rhodium Group investment map, Oklahoma  has one  Chinese investment so far, totaling $4 million in “consumer products”.

Governor Mary Fallin, a member of the NGA’s Economic Development and Commerce Committee, will most likely be promoting more Chinese investment in Oklahoma.

From this committee’s May 2011 briefing:

“Attracting Foreign Direct Investment into the States
On May 17, 2011, the NGA Economic Development and Commerce Committee hosted a briefing for governors’ staff about the role of foreign direct investment from the perspective of U.S. subsidiaries of foreign parent companies. Topics discussed included how to recruit investment, tax challenges, conflict-of-laws and the importance of physical infrastructure to global competitiveness. Panelists: Tom Langan, director of U.S. government relations and public affairs, Unilever (NGA Corporate Fellow); Nancy McLernon, president and CEO, Organization for International Investment (OFII); and, John Lettieri, senior director of public policy and government affairs, OFII. Audio link (mp3)”

Oklahoma’s Dept. of Commerce promotes Foreign Direct Investment in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma’s universities have been busy developing Chinese partnerships, including OU’s Confucius Institute, which aims to “foster a permanent place for the teaching and study of Chinese in Oklahoma K-12 schools courses.”

Where’s the Document?

According to the Chinese Embassy in the U.S website, describing President Hu Jintao’s U.S. visit:

“During Hu’s January visit, the two governments signed a memorandum of understanding commissioning the CPAFFC and the NGA to create the governors forum mechanism.

According to the document, the forum will serve as an important communication platform aimed at promoting practical cooperation at the sub-national level in areas such as trade, investment, energy, environment and culture”

No amount of searching of the State Department, White House, and Chinese embassy websites has revealed the actual Memorandum of Understanding document.

A FOIA request for a copy of the MOU has been submitted to the State Dept.’s Office of Global Intergovernmental Affairs.

The 2011 NGA Winter Meeting , held in Washington D.C. featured Zhou Qiang, Party Secretary, Hunan Provincial Committee, pictured above.  Zhou encouraged increased sub-national cooperation. Photo Source: National Governors Association.

What are the intentions of the Fallin administration regarding expanding Chinese involvement in Oklahoma?

Does Gov. Fallin intend to partner with a Chinese party official at the July meeting in Salt Lake City and seek increased “sub-national cooperation”?

Does Fallin intend to encourage Chinese foreign direct investment in Oklahoma or seek public-private partnerships with the Chinese in developing Oklahoma’s infrastructure?

These and other questions need to be answered by this “conservative” governor.

Governor Fallin’s office contact information:
Phone: 405-521-2342
Email: info@gov.ok.gov