Guangdong Vice Governor Wan Advised of Visits by Commerce

UNCLAS GUANGZHOU 000529 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/CM E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV OVIP KPIR ECON CVIS CH SUBJECT: Guangdong Vice Governor Wan Advised of Visits by Commerce Secretary and Ambassador ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On September 2, the Consul General informed Guangdong Vice Governor Wan Qingliang that U.S. Commerce Secretary Locke and the Ambassador would visit Guangzhou to attend the Pearl River Delta (PRD) Forum on Innovation and Intellectual Property (IP) October 26-27 and that the Ambassador also plans to break ground for the new consulate compound (NCC). Vice Governor Wan promised assistance in preparing for the visits and in setting up a meeting with Guangdong Party Secretary Wang Yang. END SUMMARY. Further Cooperation Built on Solid Ground -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Consul General Goldbeck used his initial courtesy call with Vice Governor Wan on September 2 to confirm the Commerce Secretary and Ambassador's intention to visit for the PRD Forum on Innovation and IP jointly sponsored by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the South China American Chamber of Commerce, and the Guangdong Intellectual Property Office. The CG requested assistance from the Guangdong Foreign Affairs Office to help with visit preparations and to arrange a meeting with Guangdong Party Secretary Wang Yang. The CG noted that during his visit the Ambassador also plans to break ground for the NCC, reflecting the USG's commitment to the bilateral relationship. ¶3. (SBU) The CG and Wan then both expressed a desire to increase cooperation and build on the already strong relationship shared by the United States and Guangdong province, and to further the solid relationship developed by the Consul General's predecessor, then CG and now DCM Goldberg. Wan several times noted that he had enjoyed very close ties with the CG and Consulate, and he hoped to build on this solid foundation. ¶4. (SBU) The CG stressed that the Consulate will work hard to expand cooperation in south China. This will mean continued facilitation of people-to-people exchanges through travel to the United States as well as closer economic ties. He noted that the Consulate officers accompanying him reflected the range of areas in which the Consulate hopes to develop closer ties, from trade, investment and travel to education and culture. GOLDBECK