6 provinces, New York state bolster ties

Zhang Qiyue (fourth from right), consul general of China in New York, Howard Zemsky (right of Zhang), commissioner of the New York State Department of Economic Development, and Byron Brown (left of Zhang), mayor of Buffalo, attend the Chinese Provinces-New York State Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum in Buffalo, New York on Tuesday. PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY

New York and China are good business for each other.

According to Zhang Qiyue, the Chinese consul general in New York, China is now New York's largest trading partner outside of North America.

And things could get even better thanks to a joint working group set up to promote commerce between six Chinese provinces and the Empire State.

Trade between New York and China reached $23.5 billion last year — more than any other state in the US northeast — and China is New York's largest source of import and second-largest trading partner, Zhang said on Tuesday at the Chinese Provinces-New York State Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum held in Buffalo, New York.

"Cooperation at the sub-national level is the pillar of our bilateral ties," said Zhang. "Today, there are 43 pairs of sister states and more than 200 pairs of sister cities between our two countries. New York State, in particular, enjoys close cooperation with China."

The investment forum was sponsored by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce's foreign trade development bureau and Empire State Development, New York's economic development agency.

Zhang, Jeff Janiszewski, senior vice-president of business development at Empire State Development, Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown and Sun Chenghai, secretary for foreign trade development at the Ministry of Commerce, addressed the conference.

The Chinese provinces involved in trade with New York and the people of New York all have an interest "in expanding their horizons and exploring opportunities beyond their borders," said Zhang.

"All of them have leaders committed to embracing any opportunities that can help their people grow and prosper. What is needed is an opportunity to get to know each other and work together," she said.

amyhe@chinadailyusa.com