Seattle will be the first stop as Chinese President Xi Jinping and his delegation visit the United States starting from Sept 22.

Washington Governor Jay Inslee said he feels excited and honored to host President Xi and will welcome him with excellent local fare such as Ivar's clam chowder and Washington State wine.

China is Washington State's largest trading partner, with more than $29 billion of trade in 2014. The state ranks second nationally in premium wine production and China has recently developed into one of the fastest-growing importers of US wine.

"China is Washington State's top export destination, receiving more than $15 billion in Washington-produced goods last year alone and supporting close to 90,000 jobs in our state," said former Washington Governor Gary Locke. "Constructive relations between our state and China are critical to the success of our companies large and small and to their competitiveness throughout the world."

"We have tremendous opportunities to grow a stronger, better and economically more productive relationship with China," Inslee said.

Inslee visited China in 2013 as part of a trade mission to Asia and invited Xi to Washington State in recognition of the state's strong economic, academic and cultural ties with China.

During his visit to Seattle, Xi will visit Boeing's Paine Field, Microsoft's main campus and Lincoln High School in Tacoma. He will also meet with US business and government leaders and offer the only policy speech of his trip at a banquet dinner.

At the third US-China Governors' Forum in Seattle, Inslee, along with four other US governors - Jerry Brown of California, Rick Snyder of Michigan, Terry Branstad of Iowa and Kate Brown of Oregon - will meet Sichuan Party Secretary Wang Dongming, Beijing Mayor Wang Anshun, Chongqing Mayor Huang Qifan, Zhejiang Governor Li Qiang, Shandong Governor Guo Shuqing and Shaanxi Governor Lou Qinjian.

"We are very pleased because we have got these joint efforts to talk about ways to maximize clean technology in both of our countries," Inslee said.

"Discussion and cooperation will allow the carbon pollution reduction goals the US and China recently established to become a reality," he added.

After the stay in Seattle from Sept. 22-24, President Xi will meet President Barack Obama at the White House on Sept 25.

lindadeng@chinadailyusa.com