Zhao Long, secretary of the Fujian Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, met with James Manning, president pro tempore of the Oregon Senate, on Sept 24 in Fuzhou, Fujian province.

Zhao outlined Fujian's economic and social development, noting that the province is deepening reform, expanding high-level opening-up, and pursuing high-quality development.

As Fujian and Oregon mark the 42nd anniversary of their sister-state relationship, Zhao called for closer exchanges and cooperation in trade and investment, climate governance, and people-to-people ties through initiatives such as the Bond with Kuliang.

He said such exchanges could foster mutual understanding between the two cultures, bring mutual benefits, and take ties between the two regions to a higher level.

Manning said Oregon values its longstanding friendship with Fujian and expressed support for cooperation in trade, environmental protection, culture, education, agriculture, and forestry, adding the two sides could work together to build a better future.