Trade, environment to dominate Jerry Brown’s first day in China
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BEIJING -- Gov. Jerry Brown finally arrived in China Tuesday night, telling dozens of Californians that his search for Chinese investment in California would not be deterred by tensions between Beijing and Washington.
“I know there are a lot of politics with everyone in Washington,” Brown told about 80 delegates at the China Club, a downtown restaurant that served as a villa for a Qing Dynasty prince in the 16th century. “But we’re from California and we’re not interested in politics. We’re interested in business.”
Brown and his wife Anne arrived in Beijing a day later than most in his entourage, and a couple of hours later than expected due to a baggage mishap in San Francisco. After two hours of gamely entertaining dozens of delegates eager for his attention, the governor left for his hotel, vowing to get his “head on the pillow by 10.”
Brown will need the rest. He begins Wednesday morning with a meeting with China’s commerce minister, and will sign an agreement with a handful of regional leaders to promote more trade between their provinces and California. Brown will also hold private meetings with China’s environmental protection minister, with the two sides expected to sign a nonbinding accord on reducing smog and greenhouse gas emissions, before ending the day at the American Embassy, where he is expected to announce new business deals between Chinese and American companies.
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