China/Indiana: Trade Marriage to Hit New Heights – China Daily News

The article below, dated Sept. 2, 2011, is from the China Daily USA news site about Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels’ latest deal with the Chinese.

Daniels recently attended the National Governors Association (NGA) meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah July 13-17, 2011 which included the first-ever U.S.-China Governors Forum.  The purpose of the Governors Forum was to increase cooperation between the U.S. and China at the sub-national level.

Looks like Mitch took the meeting to heart.

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Trade marriage to hit new heights

2011-09-02

By Ariel Tung (China Daily)

“Firms in Indiana, Zhejiang look to create jobs through biz deals

Their landmasses are very similar. Manufacturing dominates each region. Each is economically invested in what the other region produces.

The connections between the state of Indiana and Zhejiang province, which established ties as sister states in 1987, are already numerous, but in the next few years, leaders from both regions say they are planning to further cement economic ties.

“Indiana is very excited and proud of the significant flow of the Chinese investments that have only begun in our state. We hope Chinese investments will continue to rise sharply in our state,” says Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels.

China is Indiana’s fastest-growing export market. According to a report from the US-China Business Council, the state’s exports to China in the last 10 years have grown a hefty 554 percent, while the state’s exports to all other countries have grown by 81 percent.

Daniels says China has contributed at least five significant job-creating investments to the state in the last few years in sectors ranging from manufacturing to automotive to agriculture and furniture.

China’s investments across many sectors of Indiana reflect the nation’s growing investments across the United States. A recent study by the Asia Society in New York estimates that China could potentially invest almost $2 trillion overseas in the next 10 years with a great portion of that heading to the US.

When Daniels first took office in 2005, he made job creation his top priority. He created the public-private Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) to replace a failing state bureaucracy in attracting new jobs. In 2008, CNBC named Indiana as the most improved state for business in the nation.

As a result of his efforts, Indiana’s cemented relationship with Zhejiang province has brought Chinese businesses to the Hoosier state, such as Wanxiang Group Corp and Anji Yuankai Furniture Co.

Zhejiang, located on the east coast of China, is known for its thriving private sector. Daniels says he wants to concentrate on attracting the province’s investments. He has visited Zhejiang twice in the last two years with other Indiana officials and business executives.”   Rest of China Daily article here.

University Leaders and Former U.S. Senator Want Deeper U.S.-China Partnerships

OK-SAFE, Inc. Reporting – 8-1-2011,

[#2 in a series of 3 covering the U.S.-China 2011 Trade, Culture & Education Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, July 14-17, 2011.]

Excerpt:

“Ladies and gentlemen, through this historic conference, new frontiers and new relationships will be forged in renewable energy, green technologies, information technologies, bio- and life- sciences, advanced materials, high end manufacturing and mining technologies.”   Mark McLellan, Vice President of Research, Utah State University, to Chinese audience at Eccles Conference Center, USU, as part of the U.S.-China 2011 Conference, 7/15/11.

“What we must recognize is that with the end of the Cold War there are no boundaries in the world anymore, and we must be open to cooperation and commerce and opportunity with everybody else in the world in all three of these areas….So what I am hoping for in the future is a partnership that is not just mutually beneficial between our two countries, but economic growth and the creation of wealth that can spread to the rest of the world with the joint leadership between Chinese and American entrepreneurs that move around the globe in ways that would not have been possible during the days of the Cold War.” Former U.S. Senator Bob Bennett to Chinese audience at Eccles Conference Center, USU, as part of the U.S.-China 2011 Conference, 7/15/11.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the second in a series of three transcripts of select sessions at the recent U.S.-China 2011 Trade, Culture & Education Conference held in Salt Lake City, Utah at the Little America Hotel, July 14-17, 2011.  This conference was held in conjunction with the National Governors Association/U.S.-China Governors Forum.

The overwhelming impression one came away with after attending this conference was that Utah, like many other states, is actively and enthusiastically pursuing economic, educational and cultural partnerships/integration with the Communist Chinese.  The fact that the Chinese political leaders honored were all long-time members of the Communist Party of China didn’t faze the conference organizers, business (Mormon) leaders, state government agencies, or universities one bit.

[In fact, Salt Lake City leaders, apparently wanting to embrace all things Asian, have gone so far as to start a “Chinatown” of their own. This Chinatown is not to be confused with those that happened organically over a period of time in the larger U.S. cities; this one is a several acre mall, bthat will feature businesses owned and operated by….Chinese.  Interested? See website for investment opportunities.  Wonder if it’s in a TIF district?]

Too bad the state of Utah (and the U.S. Governors), and the event organizers couldn’t demonstrate this much interest and enthusiasm about developing American owned businesses that hire Americans in America.

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Attendees of the U.S.-China 2011 Trade, Culture & Education Conference held at The Little America Hotel in Salt Lake City, Ytah, board tour buses headed for Utah State University day trip, 7/15/11.

DATE:  Friday, 7-15-11

Event: Day trip to Utah State University – Comments by former U.S. Senator Bob Bennett, of Utah

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S.-China 2011 Trade, Culture & Education conference attendees walk to meeting on the campus of Utah  State University, 7/15/11.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Banner hanging off top of the Eccles Conference Center building on the USU campus 7/15/11.

Opening Comments (Bold and Italics added for emphasis.)

Speaker: Mark McLellan, Vice President for Research, USU.

Summary of first few statements:  USU has 38 visiting scholars.  700 students enrolled in program. Strong research ties with colleagues in China. McLellan mentioned three USU instructors involved in joint USU/China University projects and long-term relationships.  McLellan credited Senator Bob Bennett with developing a particular long-term partnership between USU and a Chinese university.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mark McLellan, Vice President for Research, USU, in the Eccles Conference Center, 7/15/11.

“Our partnerships in China have strengthened and enriched Utah State’s ability to not just talk its land grant mission but to walk it, to believe it, to make it really, really work.

Ladies and gentlemen, through this historic conference, new frontiers and new relationships will be forged in renewable energy, green technologies, information technologies, bio- and life- sciences, advanced materials, high end manufacturing and mining technologies.

We have great opportunities to build partnerships here.

Each of these areas open (sic) up new opportunities and areas for growth and we are anxious to grow with you in these news partnerships and continue to build a long-term relationship.

Again, I welcome you to our campus, and I hope you enjoy your days here in the middle of the Rocky Mountains.

And now let me ask Neil Abercrombie, our Director of Government Relations at Utah State, to come to the podium… Neil?”

 

Speaker: Neil Abercrombie.

Good morning ladies and gentlemen. I’m thrilled to also welcome you to Utah State University and introduce our keynote speaker this morning.

Bob Bennett served in the United States Senate, representing the state of Utah for three terms.  During that 18 years of service he developed a great reputation best described, and most accurately described, as “a pragmatic problem solver.”

During this time of developing solutions to very complex policy problems Senator Bennett developed a great reputation on both sides of the aisle not only for his intelligent and innovative ideas, but for his impeccable integrity.

And while Bob Bennett is no longer serving in the United States Senate he certainly is not retired. He continues to keep a very busy schedule, very influential in Washington, D.C.,  across the nation, and even globally, applying the same skills of pragmatic problem solving to complex world issues.

So this morning, please join me in welcoming Senator Bob Bennett to speak to us.

Speaker: Senator Bob Bennett 

“Thank you very much, I appreciate the opportunity. I’ve spoken in this hall before but the crowd was usually a little more hostile because it was in the middle of a political campaign.  I don’t imagine any of you is going to be as excited about seeing me defeated as many of the other people who sat in those seats were prior to my coming here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Former Utah Senator Bob Bennett, speaking at the U.S.-China 2011 Trade, Culture & Education Conference, in the Eccles Conference Center at USU 7/15/11.

(To translator: That was quick. I thought I talked a little longer than that.)

We’re on the campus of the University so I am going to be a little bit professorial.  Professorial – I am going to be a school teacher this morning.

If you go all the way back in human history you find that the original people were hunter/gatherers, who lived primarily on meat if they could run down the animal, and then whatever they could gather in the form of fruit and nuts.

And in the words of one political philosopher life was nasty, brutish, and short.

Then somebody made a discovery – if you stayed in one place and planted seeds and then tended the plants and harvested, you could get a lot more to eat than you could running around the country-side chasing the animals.

That was called the Neolithic Revolution for those of you taking notes like a college class. And it was the “big bang” that changed society forever.

Some historians say all of human history can be divided into that which took place before and that which took place after this revolution.

People had more to eat and they could begin to engage in trade with their surplus food. They weren’t living hand-to-mouth now; they had extra crops, and commerce grew up.

When commerce came along they had to invent some medium of exchange, and we had money.

Originally it was in the form of precious metals because that’s hard to counterfeit and it doesn’t spoil if it gets left out in the rain.

And human beings lived like for thousands of years, raising crops, trading their excess wealth, spending money back and forth, and growing and exploring until they covered the whole world.

Then somebody made another discovery, just as important as the discovery of the planting of seeds – somebody realized that you could make things easier and more cheaply if you used interchangeable parts.  (To translator: Interchangeable parts.)

Best example of that is in building a carriage. In the agricultural age, if you wanted a carriage you hired an expert carriage maker who, with his team, would build you one and it would be one of a kind. And if you wanted two, you had to hire two carriage makers, or wait twice as long.

After the introduction of interchangeable parts, Henry Ford could produce a carriage, it’s named shortened to ‘car’, every 3 and ½ minutes, by having a factory in which people would take those parts and assemble them in a predetermined way. And the cars they produced was (sic) cheaper and better and far more powerful than any of the carriages that had been built before.

And instead of carrying a bag of coins around with him to pay his workers, people would accept a piece of paper that would say, “Well there’s this much precious metal available and you take this check that will be a medium of exchange and you can use it to buy things instead of walking around with a bunch of gold.”

Now, what I’ve just described was called the Industrial Revolution, and it changed everything just as dramatically as the Neolithic Revolution did, and human history has never been the same again since the Industrial Revolution came along.

We were all just getting used to that when once again somebody had an idea – and we have the third revolution hit us.

It’s called the Information Revolution.

The idea is just as simple as the idea of planting seeds and staying in one place or assembling things out of interchangeable parts.

It was the idea that a switch in a transistor could be either on or off.

If it was “on” it represented a zero, and if it was “off” it represented a one, and if you string enough transistors together and create enough combinations of zeroes and one, and ones, you could describe anything in the world.  (OK-SAFE NOTE: Actually, “on” represents a one, and “off” represents zero.)

They built machines with all those transistors in them and they were huge. They would occupy rooms bigger than this one – they were called “computers”.

And in order to read all of the combinations of zeros and ones that were stored in those giant machines a new language was created, called “digital code”.

Once again, it changed human history as dramatically as the two ideas that I’ve described before it.

And it changed the concept of wealth and of the way we do commerce.

In the agricultural age, a man’s wealth was determined by how much land he owned. We don’t know who it was in the United States in those days but a good candidate for the title was a fellow named George Washington.

In the industrial age it didn’t matter how much land you owned, the richest man was the one who had the biggest factory and his name was Henry Ford.

Now the richest man in America doesn’t own any land (of consequence), doesn’t have a factory, but he has proven the best master of digital code and his name is Bill Gates.

Society is reeling under the changes that the information revolution has brought into our lives just as much as it did under the changes that were brought by the industrial revolution or the agricultural revolution.

Commerce has changed dramatically as one of the main commodities being bought and sold around the world is knowledge.

Money is no longer a pile of gold coins or a stack of checks, but electronic blips that move around the world with the speed of light. 

Now, at the risk of stepping into territory that’s a little unfamiliar to me, I look at China and realize that China was in the agricultural age just 50 years ago.

The Industrial age was not the dominant factor there.

Then came the information age, and China is now dealing with all three simultaneously.

The speed with which you have moved into the information age, and the ease with which you navigate the information age, is breathtaking and an example to the rest of the world.

Now, we in America have a great deal to contribute in all three areas. 

We can help make agriculture more productive; we can help make industrial processes more streamlined; and we’re, we hope we are leading the world in information, entrepreneurial-ship and innovation.

What we must recognize is that with the end of the Cold War there are no boundaries in the world anymore, and we must be open to cooperation and commerce and opportunity with everybody else in the world in all three of these areas. 

I recognize that China is also reaching out to the rest of world to do what it can to deal with the challenges created by this new revolution, and one place I’d like to talk about very briefly with you is Africa. 

The western world’s approach to Africa over the last decades, a half century or more, has been, “These people are poor, let’s give them money. That’s the humanitarian thing to do.”

The record of accomplishment in Africa has not been good.  And we’ve found that just giving them money doesn’t help solve their problems.

As I go around Africa today I realize, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, the nation in the world that is there doing things that will be productive is China.

Interestingly, in many parts of Africa they have missed the industrial age altogether. They have the agricultural age and they have cell phones but they have nothing in-between.

If we are going to see the betterment of the human condition around the entire world, it’s going to take leadership from those countries that have moved forward in the progress of human society in the way I have described.

I can think of no better partnership for leadership in this regard, than between the United State and China. 

China has become a major manufacturing source not only for the Chinese but for the rest of the world. I’m a strong believer in free trade, and I don’t feel threatened by that fact.

Agriculture is obviously still important in China, but China’s activities in the information age indicate that China is a country like the United States, that can be innovative and powerful and productive in all three areas – agricultural, industrial,  and information. 

So what I am hoping for in the future is a partnership that is not just mutually beneficial between our two countries, but economic growth and the creation of wealth that can spread to the rest of the world with the joint leadership between Chinese and American entrepreneurs that move around the globe in ways that would not have been possible during the days of the Cold War.

I started out by talking about the very beginning of human history and economic activity. I didn’t mention, but we need to recognize, that one human activity that goes back as far as anything else has been war.

It’s been driven sometimes by religious differences, sometimes by ethnic differences, and many times by economic challenges and, uh, on the part of an aggressor the thought of economic opportunity, to take away from one group that which they have so that the invading group can get it for their own without effort.

Now we have discovered that you can achieve economic prosperity without taking it away from your neighbor. You can do it by engaging in intelligent commerce and trade.  And countries that trade with each other in an open and free manner do not go to war with each other.

So as we move into the high productivity era of the information age where commerce becomes even more valuable, and more and more wealth is created all the time, it is not just an economic opportunity that’s available to us, it’s a humanitarian and peaceful opportunity that’s available to us as well.

As we cooperate in high-tech trade and knowledge exchange, we make war even more and more obsolete – you don’t shoot your customers. 

The more we have conferences like this, the more we get together to talk about things like the agenda items you will cover today,  the more we travel back and forth, the more we create wealth, the more we exploit the opportunities of the  information age, and the more we make peace probable and predictable for our futures. (sic)

The last comment I’ll make with respect to the information revolution has to do with the speed with which it is coming on us and changing everything.

The industrial age took hundreds of years to unfold and we could adjust to the changes that it made in our lives fairly easily, but the information age is coming at us almost with the speed of light. When I went to the Senate I watched the lights that would blink, that would tell you whether or not the Senate was voting, a system that was put in place some years ago.

Then they gave me a beeper to hang on my belt so that I didn’t need to watch the lights; and electronically they could tell me whether the Senate was voting.

I just got the point where I could figure it out when Senator Frisk said, “I have some important information for you.”  We all pulled out our pens and he said, “It’s on your Blackberry.”

None of us had Blackberries.

So, we get them, I get to the point where I begin to understand the Blackberry, and they take it away from me and give me another Blackberry which is the next generation and I can’t figure that one out.

Then I leave the Senate and in my new incarnation they tell me I have to carry an I-Phone.  I still don’t have all the APPS that are available to me and they’re selling me an I-Pad.

Now I sit in front of my flat screen television and watch all the ads telling me that the I-Pad is completely obsolete and look at all the toys that are available.

The young people that are just coming of age can handle all of this without turning a hair.  My grandson says to me, “Hey, Grandpa, do you want me to set up a new website for you on your palm pilot?”  Which doesn’t exist anymore, that another example of how fast the technology changes.

For many in my generation this kind of thing is very unsettling.  I was talking with one woman and said,  “I will send you an email on that” and she said, “I don’t do email, I still use stamps.”

The rising generation has no patience for that attitude, whether it’s in China or in the United States.

They’re coming at us; a wave of young people prepared to embrace the information revolution, prosper in it, and spread it throughout all of the world.

The U.S. and China should join hands and do everything we can to encourage these young people and conquer the future as dramatically as Henry Ford conquered the past.

And I’ll do just fine because I have plenty of grandchildren who will tell me how it works.

Thank you so much for being here.”

End of statement.

The full pdf of this transcript including more photos and a summary of USU President Stan Albrecht, is available here.

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?

Imagine “The Best Little Whorehouses in…uh, Utah?” U.S.-China 2011 Conferences

OK-SAFE, Inc. Reporting

[The following is the first in a series of three transcripts OK-SAFE, Inc. will be posting on this event.]

Excerpts:

“You are part of making history today.  July 14, 2011 will be one of those days that you will be able to say to your children, and your grandchildren, that you were here when history was made.” Lew Cramer, President and CEO World Trade Center Utah.

“On behalf of the people of Utah, I beg you for your continued partnership with Utah” Utah Governor Gary Herbert to the Chinese officials and business interests present at the U.S.-China 2011 Trade, Education & Culture Conference, 7-14-11

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What follows is the transcript of the Opening Plenary Session of the U.S.-China Trade, Education & Culture Conference, July 14-17, 2011, held at The Little America Hotel, Salt Lake City, Utah.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Little America Hotel, Salt Lake City, Utah

This event, sponsored by the Mormon-run American-Chinese Friendship Promotion Society, took place across the street from The Grand America Hotel, where 32 U.S. Governors, under tight security, met for the National Governors Association conference.

That NGA event included the first-ever U.S.-China Governors Forum (document here.)  Chinese provincial leaders and Governors, all members of the CPC, spoke at both events.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Grand America Hotel, Salt Lake City, Utah

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Security outside the Grand America Hotel, Salt Lake City, Utah, during the NGA Conference

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Police & security inside the Grand America Hotel, Salt Lake City, Utah, during the NGA Conference, July 2011.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour being interviewed outside The Grand America Hotel, 7/14/11, while attending the NGA Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The courtyard area of the Grand America Hotel, Salt Lake City, Utah, location of the NGA Conference July 14-17, 2011. The U.S. Governors and Chinese officials met on the sequestered 3^rd floor of the Hotel and in the secured conference rooms on the east side of the ground floor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1) Photo of NGA Attendees in the Grand America Hotel courtyard, Thursday evening, 7/14/11, Salt Lake City, Utah. The NGA Event was heavily secured and access was limited to those wearing the NGA badges.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2) Photo of NGA Attendees in the Grand America Hotel courtyard, Thursday evening, 7/14/11, Salt Lake City, Utah. The NGA Event was heavily secured and access was limited to those wearing the NGA badges.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chinese government officials seated at round tables at the U.S.-China 2011 Trade, Education & Culture Conference, Salt Lake City, Utah, 7-14-11.

Hotels – Or The Best Little Whorehouses in…Utah?

Over the four-day span these two otherwise fine hotels could have more appropriately been named the “The Best Little Whorehouses in Texas Utah”.  (Where ‘whorehouse’ is defined as a place where those seek after that which is immoral and idolatrous.)

The object of both events was matchmaking; a sort of high-level, speed-dating event aimed at introducing and pairing up government officials, University R & D department heads, and Utah businesses (the “girls”) with potential Chinese partners (the “johns”) who are, after all is said and done,  still COMMUNISTS. (See bios of Chinese officials below).

Several Memorandums of Understanding were signed between the Chinese and U.S. Governors and Universities.

Chinese media were everywhere – but some American media were excluded due to potential bias in reporting. (But the Chinese and U.S. mainstream media allowed in wouldn’t be biased?

 

Chinese media photograph a speaker at the U.S.-China 2011 Trade, Education & Culture Conference, 7-14-2011, held at the Little America Hotel, Salt Lake City, Utah.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One corner of the conference room featured a row of photos of U.S. Presidents shaking hands with Chinese leaders, main conference room, Little America Hotel, Salt Lake City, Utah, July 14, 011.

Below is the first of three transcripts OK-SAFE, Inc. will be posting of the events hosted by the AC-FPS, which included a full day’s trip to Utah State University. (Full 22-page pdf of this report, including more photos here.)

10:00 am –

Opening Remarks

 Lew Cramer, President & CEO, World Trade Center Utah:

“Mister Party Secretary, distinguished Governors, Madame Li, international friends – thank you so much for joining us on this U.S.-China 2011Trade, Culture& Education Conference.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lew Cramer, President & CEO, World Trade Center Utah..

“You are part of making history today.  July 14, 2011 will be one of those days that you will be able to say to your children, and your grandchildren, that you were here when history was made.” 

“It is not because the Harry Potter film is premiering tonight.  It is because there has never been a gathering before in this country of such distinguished guests from China.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are honored to be welcoming the leaders of four Provinces of China in conjunction with the National Governors Association meeting which starts tonight.  These four distinguished guests in front of us represent, by my count, over 178 million citizens in the People’s Republic of China. Utah is in the ‘under 50 million’ category in size, so we’re grateful to have this cooperation taking place today.

Uh, I can recall, I can remember my first trip to China in December of 1955, and in the many, many years since then, every time I’ve been on a trip to China it is new and expanded and exciting country. But now they have you come here and see our part of the world is a huge stride (unclear) and we extend our deep appreciation for you business.

We know that most American know of Beijing and Shanghai. Most citizens in China know about New York and Los Angeles.

From July 14^th on we will know each other much better and know, and grasp the great opportunities that exist throughout both of our countries besides just on the coasts.

We are grateful for those who have sponsored this event today; they’re listed in the program. We’re grateful particularly for the two visionaries that made this happen – Governor Herbert and Ron Hansen.  You’ll hear from both of them in just a minute.

This is an exciting opportunity to share in a way that has never been done before.

In most of the United States we use the phrase, “China is the Far East.” In Utah we use the phrase, “China is the Near West.”

We’re particularly grateful that you have taken the journey of many thousands of miles to share in your time with us this weekend.  Our airlines are happy, our hotels are happy, and our business executives will be happy.  Xiexie. (“Thank you”).

We have lots to be proud of in Utah. But one of the things we’re proudest of that we are connectors and bridge-builders.  Jeff, let’s show a picture of something that happened a hundred and twenty two years ago for a second, for our guests.

This is a very famous picture (below) because in 1869 east and west came together; they’re connecting the two railroads that connected a continent.  For the first time there our east and west were connected.

This was an historic event taking place a few miles north of here. There is a lot of celebration going on and I think that many of our ancestors on both sides may have participated in this historic event.

Today, July 14^th, 2011, we are again joining East and West – we’re bringing China and Utah together. 

If you look closely there you can probably see Governor Herbert on one of the locomotives.

He has been the driving force making sure this would happen.

This is a day, also, of personal connections.  The most important distance in international business diplomacy is the last three feet, where you look each other in the eye, shake hands and exchange business cards and decide you want to be friends and do business together.

Connections exist to make us all more productive.

We have used many words about this event today – “historical”, “unprecedented”,” exciting” – but at the end of the day we the word is “productive”.

Many of you have seen today with descriptions of some of the events of yesterday with Qinghai. The headline says “Let the Dealmaking Begin.” We hope today that you make new friends, talk about new deals, share new ideas, and distribute business cards so it will be a very productive day for business, culture and education in Utah.

I would like those who are, who could serve as translators today just to raise their hand – those who are helping translate. There are several people out there – but that is just an example the way this making connections happen. 

We’re going to spend much of the afternoon connecting industry sectors/interest clusters with each other and that’ll be the power of this. 

Governor Herbert has made a challenge to us in Utah to build unprecedented partnerships.  That is what we are doing at the Governor Office of Economic Development, the Department of Commerce, the colleges, the chambers of commerce, the Economic Development corporations, the World Trade Center.

Unprecedented partnerships are what make this state work so well.

And Governor Herbert and I and everyone in Utah are cheerleaders for the fact that this collaboration is really working.  You will hear more about that through your time here.

We will hear from Ron Hansen, who will introduce the governors after Governor Herbert speaks.

And let me share my introduction of Governor Herbert. I have the pleasure of spending many, many hours with him, and think he is an extraordinary leader, focused on the many opportunities for Utah, for our nation, and for our world.

You’ll hear more, but under his leadership, exports in this state were the only state in the nation that doubled in the last five years. We are focused on our international collaborations.

Governor Herbert has spent many years in devoted public service. He knows every square mile of this great state; he knows most citizens and most voters in this great state. He has worked with them, (unclear) with them, to not only build this state, the nation, and his most recent very successful international trade mission to China in April.

The Governor’s focus is on the Es – extraordinary focus on energy, the environment, and on education.

It is our pleasure to have a leader focused on international partnerships. He is our economic coordinator; he’s our Connector-in-Chief, and our chief partner in making Utah a globalized state.

Please welcome Utah’s 17^th Governor, the Honorable Gary Herbert.”

(Applause.)

Governor Herbert comments:

“Ni hau.  Xiexie, Lew Cramer, thank you for that wonderful introduction. I’m honored to be here with all of you and I certainly want to express my welcome to one and all today, particularly to Secretary Zhou, our distinguished governors, our friend Madame Li and all for taking time to join us  in what Lew has already said is an historic occasion for us all here in Utah.

We have business leaders with us, cabinet leaders and legislators in the crowd with us – we welcome one and all today.

This is truly an historic occasion, to bring Governors from two great nations together, where we’re in a spirit of mutual respect and pursuit of common goals.

We’re here to forge mutually beneficial business relationships, which will create new opportunities for the people of Utah, the United States, and for China.

It is important that these relationships are built upon on a  firm foundation of friendship, mutual benefit, trust and collaboration.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Utah Governor Gary Herbert, 7-14-11

That foundation is critical to allowing Utah’s bond with China to continue to grow and to flourish.

I’d like to take this opportunity to speak with you a little bit about Utah’s economic development vision and bilateral opportunities which are available to Utah and to China.

We have a vision for our state, which is that Utah will lead the nation as the best performing economy, and be recognized as a premier global business destination.

Our vision is steadily becoming a reality. And Utah has been recognized by leading observers around the country. We’ve been recognized as the number one state in America for business and careers by the prestigious Forbes magazine.  And just this last week Fortune magazine recognized Salt Lake City’s metropolitan area as one the 15 hottest business centers in the world.

These are just two of the numerous national and international accolades that we have received as of late.

This recognition is not random.  Our success is no accident.

This is the result of a deliberate effort on our part in Utah, that makes Utah a fertile field for business and for economic development.

Utah’s economic development efforts are focused on four key areas:  1) is to increase our national and international business; 2) is to strengthen and grow our existing Utah businesses; 3) is to increase innovation, entrepreneurship, creativity, and investment; and 4) to prioritize education in order to develop a workforce of the future that meet the demands of the global marketplace.

As Governor my two most important two duties are creating jobs for Utahns and preparing the state economy for success in a global future.

It is easy to see that the future of business is in the international arena.  Perhaps the strongest evidence of that is Utah’s strengthening relationship with China.

The Greater China area is Utah’s second largest trading partner, with nearly $2 billion in exports in 2010 alone, and $1.2 billion in just the first quarter of 2011.

The strong trading relationships we’ve forged between our companies have created jobs both in China and here in Utah.

The United States National Export Initiative challenges American companies to double exports in the next five years – to boost our economic endeavors.  Along with a numerous other Governors, I have signed a letter pledging my whole-hearted support for this initiative. 

I have been (unclear), as Lew Cramer has just mentioned. Utah already has a stellar track record in the exports arena.  Utah is the only state in the nation which has doubled its’ exports over the last five years. And we’re well on our way to doubling them again over the next five years.

Utah has been able to increase their exports even at a time of economic recession here in the (unclear) country in the world. Exports have been growing at a faster rate than at any time in our history, and faster than any other state in America.  Utah’s $14 billion in exports supports nearly 8,000 Utah jobs. Thousands of Utah jobs have been created and are maintained as a direct result of our trade with China.

On behalf of the people of Utah, I beg you for your continued partnership with Utah.

It is this partnership that inspired my recent trade mission to China.   I led over 20 companies on my trade mission with the sole purpose of creating and exchanging business relationships between Utah and Chinese companies.

I led the Chinese trade mission in order to facilitate opportunities for Utah companies to have one-on-one meetings with government officials and potential partner companies in China.

We understand that for many Utah companies which do business with China having positive working relationships with Chinese regulatory agencies is crucial for success.

For example, we were able to facilitate meetings between Utah companies and our life science sector and the representative of China’s Food and Drug agency.  Utah has strong and vibrant life sciences, pharmaceutical and medical devices industries.  These meetings were critical first step for these companies to move forward with positive business relationships in China.

Our trade mission also helped to cement existing technology and research partnerships between a number of Utah and Chinese companies and our Universities.

Researchers, engineers, and innovators from China and Utah are working in concert to solve some of today’s most complex problems, particularly in the area of energy development, and environmental conservation.

These joint solutions will lead to business opportunities, will lead to business opportunities and jobs both here and in China and will ultimately benefit people all over the world, as Utah and China technology is adopted in all corners over the globe. 

Not only is Utah a great partner for China it is a great market for China. In 2010, Chinese imports to Utah totaled $1.4 billion. Utah provides a welcoming environment for foreign products, business and direct foreign investment.

Utah has been called the “Crossroads of the West”.   This is partly an historical reference, as Mr. Cramer has just talked about, with the joining of our trans-continental railroads, just an hour and half drive from here in the north of Utah.

But this is also a place not only where the East and the West come together on the railroads, but its’ also a place where we are now a geographic hub and a gateway, and a coming together, a crossroads, for business development in this country and in the (inter-mountain west) in the United States.

Utah has a unique business friendly population.

Utah has one of the most highly educated workforces in the country.

Utah also has the highest percentage of people with second-language proficiency in the United States.

We were also (one of the first states) to standardize foreign language immersion programs in our public schools.  Today, for example, Mandarin Chinese is taught in 38% of Utah schools. It is now the third most popular language choice for Utah public school students, recognizing the importance of China in the global market place.

Utah’s (unclear) Universities also offer program to obtain business-level Mandarin proficiency.

Utah is a great location for business; it has great people for business, and the right policies for business.  Utah is a safe landing zone for foreign investment – a clear regulatory structure, a faithful tax rate, and a long history of stable and efficient government.

Utah currently supports two successful EB-5 Centers and is seeking contracts for more. 

An EB-5 Regional Center is an area designated by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services as eligible to receive immigrant investor capital and may lead to green-card with a $500,000 investment.

Utah has established a number of economic clusters which provide investment and collaboration opportunities Chinese companies and capital, including aviation and aerospace, software development, and information technologies, energy and natural resources, life sciences, financial services, outdoor products and recreation.

A stellar example of a successful foreign direct investment in Utah is the Estonian company called Enefit.

Enefit recently made a large investment in Utah in Utah’s oil shale. It has the potential of being one of our nation’s greatest untapped natural resources

An area called Uintah Basin on the eastern borders of Utah has potentially millions of barrels of recoverable oil.  In Enefit, we’ve partnered with a company which has the technology, commitment, history and financing to bring that oil shale to market.

Utah is open and interested in developing many kinds of mutually beneficial business relationships in the energy industry, including oil, natural gas and other minerals for export and import with our Chinese partners.

Utah not only enjoys increasing business ties with China, it has also enjoyed an increasing number of Chinese visitors, some of which are here today.

Utah has been granted “Approved Destination Status” by the Chinese government and Utah has seen an expanded share of the 800,000 Chinese tourists who visited the United States last year alone.

While we don’t have the exact figures for the number of Chinese visitors to Utah , our Office of Tourism has reported that Chinese is now the most requested foreign language for our tours at the site of the LDS Temple, known as Temple Square, just a few blocks from here, uh, located here in downtown. Temple Square is our most visited tourist attraction and now Chinese is the number one requested language.

(Unclear) 100 million exit Visas will be granted to Chinese citizens for destination all over the world in the next decade.  We hope here in Utah that the largest number of those travelers will make their way to Utah and know that they are welcome.

Again, we are honored to have you here in our beautiful state. I am confident that your trip will bring about great things for both China and Utah.

We look forward to growing our genuine friendship and building many profitable and cooperative and mutually beneficial business relationships over the coming years.  As Mr. Cramer’s mentioned, we have, in my administration, stated that we want to form unprecedented partnerships.

I do believe that as we work together in a unprecedented ways we create unlimited opportunities as we represent our respective peoples.  It is an opportunity that is historical in its consequence – unprecedented partnerships leading to unlimited opportunities.

So we welcome you to that opportunity as we work with you in an unprecedented way in forming unprecedented partnerships.

Welcome to Utah.  We’re honored to have you here.  Thank you so very much. Xiexie.

(Applause.)

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Introduction of Four Chinese Governmental Officials

Ron Hansen, Executive Director of the American & Chinese Friendship Promotion Society, host of this event, then went on to introduce, in Mandarin Chinese, the four Chinese governmental officials.

The four officials, noted below with their biographies, all made their presentations in Chinese.

For some reason, the Chinese media present in the room appeared to be particularly interested in photographing the fourth Chinese Governor, Qin Guangrong, Governor of Yunnan Province -a frenzy of flash bulbs lit up when he was at the podium.

1.       Luo Huining, Governor of Qinghai Province.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Governor Luo Huining has served in several PRC government positions throughout China over the past 30 years primarily in the provinces of Anhui and Qinghai, including Foreign Trade and Economic Commissions and Party-Secretary positions.  He has a Ph.D. in Economics. Qinghai and Utah have a Sister Province/State Relationship.”  (Biography from the U.S.-China 2011 Conference brochure.)

2.       Zhao Hongzhu, Party Secretary of Zhejiang Province.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Secretary Zhao Hongzhu has a distinguished career of more than 40 years.  He has served in a variety of positions to include being a Standing Committee Member of the 15^th and 16^th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.  Secretary Zhao was previously the Director of the Political Department of the General Logistics Department of the PLA.  He holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the Party School of the Central Committee of the CPC.” (Biography from the U.S.-China 2011 Conference brochure.) 

3.      Wang Sanyun, Governor of Anhui Province

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Governor Wang Sanyun has served in several PRC government positions in the provinces of Guizhou, Sichuan, Fujian and Anhui.  He was the alternate Member of the 16^th and 17^th PRC Central Committee.  Governor Wang also currently serves as the Vice-Secretary of the CPC Anhui Provincial Committee and Secretary of the government’s Leading Party Member Group.  He has a Master’s Degree from the Party School of the Central Committee of the CPC.” (Biography from the U.S.-China 2011 Conference brochure.)

4.       Qin Guangrong, Governor of Yunnan Province.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Governor Qin Guangrong began his political career as a member of the Communist Youth League in Hunan province in 1975.  Since that time, he has held several PRC government positions in Hunan and Yunnan provinces.  Governor Qin is a Member of the Central Committee of the CPC.  He has a Master’s Degree in engineering from Zhongnan Industry University and also studied at the Party School of the Central Committee of the CPC.” (Biography from the U.S.-China 2011 Conference brochure.)

After the four Chinese officials spoke, conference attendees were encouraged to take a Networking break, to meet and exchange business cards with others in attendance.  This break was followed by a luncheon featuring Spencer P. Eccles, Executive Director of Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED).

Concurrent Track Sessions followed lunch, where networking was also encouraged.

OK-SAFE, Inc.’s transcript of one of those breakout sessions will follow at a later date.

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?

U.S.-China – Selling US Out

OK-SAFE, Inc. 7/8/11 – The following itemizes some, and only some, of the activities the federal and state governments, and universities, are actively engaged in that demonstrate the deepening involvement with the Communist Chinese (and with Russia), particularly through a mechanism called “foreign direct investment.”

Foreign direct investment is defined as “investment in the United States by foreign citizens; often involves majority stock ownership of an enterprise;” and “joint ventures between foreign and U.S. companies.” Read more.

January 2011 – U.S. State Department Signs MOU Creating U.S.-China Governors Forum and commits the U.S. to increased sub-national cooperation. NGA partners with Chinese group to develop agenda here and in China.

February 26, 2011 – National Governors Association Winter Meeting 2011, held in Washington D.C. featured Party Secretary Zhou Chiang of the Hunan Province. NGA Chair, Governor Christine Gregoire (WA), formalized the earlier MOU stating, “Secretary Zhou will join Governor Heineman and myself, along with Madam Lee in signing an accord that will establish a U.S./China Governors Forum.”

May 11, 2011 – China, U.S. co-op in promoting transformation of economic development pattern has significance for future: WASHINGTON, May 10 (Xinhua) – “The cooperation between China and the United States in promoting transformation of economic development pattern has significance for the future, China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said here Tuesday. China has made it clear that we will take adjustment of economic structure as the direction for accelerating the transformation of economic development pattern,” Zhang Xiaoqiang, the Vice Minister of NDRC said in a press conference during the third-round China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED), which kicked off on Monday.”

May 2011 – “Building U.S. China Environmental Commitment,” May 2011 Conference at the University of Michigan.

May 24, 2011 –Smart Grid: San Diego Gas and Electric signs MOU with Russian Federation. Did anyone see this notice in May? The Mayor of San Diego and the San Diego Gas & Electric Company signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Belgorod in the Russian Federation as part of a Smart Grid Partnership Program. MOU here.

June 13-17, 2011 – Next Stop America! Conference held in Beijing and Shanghai. Described as “a comprehensive guide to the operational, legal, branding, professional, financing and investment services needed to launch and expand your company in America, through a world-class faculty” this training included one training session entitled  ‘Leveraging Incentives and Governmental Relations’.

June 16-18, 2011 – Opening plenary comments at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, held in St. Petersburg, Russia included statements by Hu Jintao, President of the Peoples Republic of China, advocating for more global economic governance, a more “balanced” trading regime, and opposition “to all forms of protectionism.”

July 14-17, 2011 – U.S.-China Trade, Culture & Education Conference 2011, to be held in Salt Lake City, Utah at The Little America Hotel.  “US-China 2011 will focus on academic and business development and exchanges in areas such as renewable energy technologies, green technologies, next generation information technologies, bio-science and life science technologies, advanced materials, high-end manufacturing technologies, and mining technologies.”  One session includes one-on-one meetings between China and U.S. business/government officials.

July 15-17, 2011 – National Governors Association (NGA) U.S. – China Governors Forum, also in Salt Lake City, Utah, will be held across the street from the conference cited above at the 5-star Grand America Hotel. It 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.”

July 29, 2011 – 2011 EB-5 Investment Summit: Dealmakers Summit – What is an EB-5 Visa?  It’s buying citizenship. “The federal EB-5 Regional Center Pilot Program has been created to allow foreign investors to invest in commercial enterprises in the U.S. in exchange for a chance for them and their families to become legal permanent residents in the U.S. To date, over 140 EB-5 regional centers have been designated by the U.S. government and many more local commercial real estate developers and economic development agencies are actively seeking alternative capital to fund its projects. As a result of this unique federal program, several billion dollars in investment has brought into various projects and tens of thousands of American jobs have been created throughout the country.”

September 13-14, 2011 – The State Chamber’s 2011 Washington D.C. Fly-In.  Topic? “This year’s Washington, D.C. Fly-in will focus on “The New Realities” facing Oklahoma and the nation.  From economic and budget realities to health care and global challenges, the realities facing the business community are unlike any in American history. Washington and the world are changing, and this year’s fly-in will give us a chance to hear from industry and political leaders about what we can expect in the year ahead and beyond.”
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The above is only a partial list of activities in which our “leaders” are engaged. They pooh-pooh and ridicule alarmed citizens’ concerns about where this is ultimately headed: the dramatic decline of the U.S., elevation of “Technology” to a god-like position, and “foreign” interests treated as superior to our own.

Our children are being taught that this change is right, inevitable, and a natural progression of world affairs.

This change has been orchestrated and the end-game is clear – the end of America as we’ve known it.  Are we willing to turn back to the one true God yet?
Acts 17:30-31  “Therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed….”

UPDATE on Sleeping with the Enemy – NGA Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah – July 2011

A few updates on OK-SAFE blog post Sleeping with the Enemy -National Governors Association to Pair U.S. Governors and  Chinese Party Leaders, dated 6/7/11.

1)  A Media Advisory issued July 8th by the Governor’s office has confirmed that Governor Mary Fallin will be attending the NGA Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah July 13-17, 2011.

Up to now, calls and emails to OK Governor Mary Fallin questioning her participation at the upcoming NGA U.S.-China Governors Forum in Salt Lake City, Utah have gone unanswered.

Additional emails and calls are needed now that her attendance has been confirmed – just exactly what are her intentions at this conference?

Phone: 405-521-2342, 800-865-5853

Email: info@gov.ok.gov

2)  Calls and emails are needed to Lt. Governor Todd Lamb, who answered “Yes” to the question “Is your office planning to actively seek foreign direct investment in the state of Oklahoma?”

Phone: 405-521-2161

Email: info@gov.ok.gov, attention Lt. Gov. Lamb.

3)  Missing MOU document Found: The MOU Creating the U.S.-China Governors Forum was noticeably absent from the U.S. State Department’s website a full 6 months after its announcement. After repeated inquiries, this document is now available on the U.S. State Department’s website. Details on the OK-SAFE blog.

Getting it Right – “Ohio Gov. John Kasich has decided to drop out of the National Governors Association. With state finances tighter than tight, he wants to save the dues of $176,000 a year…. The Kasich administration will leave the bipartisan group at the end of this month. He will not attend its annual conference in July in Salt Lake City.” Rest here.

Too bad OK Governor Fallin didn’t make the same decision.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Interview with Prof. William Kauffman on America in the Balance

Guest Prof. William “Bill” Kauffman, Retired, Department of Aerospace Engineering, University of Michigan, President, Explosion Research and Investigation Corporation, was forced into retirement when he began questioning the University’s ties with Communist Chinese, including sharing defense technology. Kauffman is a contributor to the china-threat.com website.

 

Missing MOU now on U.S. State Dept. website

On January 19, 2011 the U.S. State Department announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) creating a U.S.-China Governors Forum.

While fact sheets and summaries were available, including photos of the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, and press conferences were held announcing this document by State Dept. officials, the actual MOU was noticeably missing.

Numerous phone calls and requests for the missing document to State’s Special Representative Reta Jo Lewis’ office, the official announcing the MOU,  were unsuccessful.  OK-SAFE then made a request through Congressman John Sullivan’s office on June 28, 2011; two days later, a legislative assistant in Sullivan’s D.C. office provided a link to a pdf version of the missing MOU.  This link was provided to him by a contact in the State Department.

Wonder of wonders, this MOU is also now available on the State Department page with the other documents pertaining to the U.S. China Governors Forum. (It wasn’t there January – June of 2011 – interesting.)

Here’s a direct link to MOU in pdf format: http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/167499.pdf

The National Governors Association sponsored U.S.-China Governors forum is scheduled for July 15-17, 2011 in Salt Lake City, Utah and will be held at the 5-star Grand America Hotel.

The NGA event coincides with the U.S.-China 2011 Conference on Trade,Education, and Culture, to be held at the Little America Hotel, directly across the street from the NGA event, July 14-17, 2011.

Both events advertise pairing up of U.S. officials with Chinese counterparts. (See the OK-SAFE blog post entitled “Sleeping With the Enemy” for more details.)

Citizens in all states have been asked to contact their governor and ask whether they plan to attend either of these conferences and if so, just what their intentions are regarding foreign direct investment, or other types of partnerships with the Communist Chinese.

Office of the Historian – Researchers Dream

This goes under the category of “You learn something new everyday.”

It is safe to say that most researchers operate as a sort of combination detective/historian. They love the thrill of the hunt and don’t mind reading what would bore most other people to death. They want to know the facts about what, when, where, how, and why certain things happen. And who did it.

They seek source documents and love archives – whether the dusty boxed kind in poorly lit warehouses or the tidy electronic kind available in pdf format. Source documents and originals paperwork, necessary for sound research, is a thrill to get access to and better than ice cream.

Not having to pay for it is another.

Check out the Office of the Historian at the U.S. State Department website.  This site and it’s contents were discovered while studying the FOIA law on the State Dept. website.

(Digging into this State Dept. FOIA process was necessary because one of our document requests is getting nowhere.  It seems the State Dept. is having a hard time disclosing the actual Memorandum of Understanding Creating the U.S.-China Governors Forum, announced on January 19, 2011 by Sec. Clinton. This forum, sponsored by the National Governors Association and a Chinese group, is to meet in Salt Lake City, Utah on July 15-17, 2011 at the 5-star Grand American Hotel. For details on this event see the “Sleeping With the Enemy” post below.)

The Office of the Historian has lots of information, with one section called Foreign Relations of the United States, listing four administrations: the Kennedy Administration (includes pre-Kennedy documents); the Johnson Administration; and two Nixon-Ford administrations (the Nixon/Agnew/Ford years, and the Nixon/Ford/Rockefeller years.)

The Nixon-Ford eras are important because we are living with the results of having developed intimate relationships with what were the Communist bloc countries – the Soviet Union and the People’s Republic of China.  It is important to understand how the U.S. developed its current interdependency with the Chinese; this means one needs to understand Henry A. Kissinger, the man present before, during and after the Nixon-Ford years and instrumental in directing policy decisions regarding both the Soviet Union and “Red China”, as it is referred to in several of these archived documents.

Kissinger really liked the communists. And still does.

Click the link to historical Documents on Foreign Relations of the United States to see the four Administrations noted above.

Click Status of the Series to see new and upcoming additions:

Foreign Relations of the United States: Status of the Series

Volumes Published in 2011 (1)

1. 1969–1976, Volume E–12, Documents on East and Southeast Asia, 1973–1976 (March 3)

Volumes Published in 2010 (6)

1. 1969–1976, Volume XIX, Part 1, Korea, 1969–1972 (May 4)
2. 1969–1976, Volume VIII, Vietnam, January–October 1972 (June 24)
3. 1969–1976, Volume VII, Vietnam, July 1970–January 1972 (September 8)
4. 1969–1976, Volume IX, Vietnam, October 1972–January 1973 (September 16)
5. 1969–1976, Volume X, Vietnam, January 1973–July 1975 (September 23)
6. 1969–1976, Volume XXXII, SALT I, 1969–1972 (November 5)

This last item – SALT I – is where the U.S. began to disarm while the Soviets built up armament.  Kissinger helped negotiate this treaty.

Bookmark this site – and dig in.