Governor Jerry Brown is heading to China next week to promote California to Chinese investors and expand the state’s economic ties.
His office released details of the six-day trip, which will include stops in Beijing, Nanjing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen.
In Shanghai, he’ll open California’s first foreign trade office since the state closed its two offices there a decade ago. And he’ll look for opportunities to boost the state’s exports and Chinese investments in California companies.
Brown and his entourage will also visit electric car-maker BYD Co. in the southern city of Shenzhen. BYD opened its North American headquarters in Los Angeles in 2011. He’ll also use the trip to ride China’s advanced high-speed rail system as he promotes the state’s own plans for a bullet train.
A delegation of about 75 California business and government officials will accompany Brown.
They include his wife and other senior advisors, the board chair of the state’s high-speed rail project and the president of the California Chamber of Commerce.
It’ll be funded with private money by a group of business leaders from the Bay area and Silicon Valley.