Governor Gavin Newsom visited Beijing, meeting President Xi Jinping and other high-level officials, marking the first visit by a U.S. governor to China in over four years.
They discussed climate action, economic development, tourism, and cultural ties, culminating in the "Declaration of Enhanced Subnational Climate Action and Cooperation." Notably, Newsom addressed human rights concerns in Hong Kong, Tibet, Xinjiang, and Taiwan, as well as the case of a California pastor imprisoned in China since 2006.
The visit also saw the signing of a climate-focused Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with China's National Development and Reform Commission.
Newsom stressed the importance of collaboration with China on the climate crisis, highlighting California's clean energy transition and urging China to transition away from fossil fuels.