BEIJING, Sept. 29, 2011 -- Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder's Asian trade trip made stop in Beijing on Wednesday. The Republican governor of the United States spent the first of his two days in China pursing stronger business ties with the world's second-largest economy.
At Wednesday's reception, this journalist landed a Q&A interview with the shrewd, gray-haired Michigan Governor.
Journalist: Mr. Governor, could you please tell us a little bit about the purpose of your trip to China?
Snyder: Well, the purpose is really to establish a good partnership relationship with China. We have many Michigan companies that have built up relationships with Chinese companies, but from a governor’s perspective, we haven’t been in presence in China for too long. It's been 11 years since a Michigan governor has been to China.
And it’s important to renew that good relationship, because the future is about global business, and about creating positive relationships and understanding that brining in cultures together is actually a great power for the future. The successful businesses of the future will be those that seize opportunities in growing economies such as China.
So we are pleased to be here, strengthening the existing relationships we have built up with Chinese companies and reaching out to other Chinese firms interested in doing business in Michigan.
Journalist: So, have you reached your goals here?
Snyder: Yes, I believe so. The trip is more about strengthening ties than closing deals. And we are very pleased to get the positive impression that people in China and businesses in particular, that many of them are seriously looking at Michigan already as a good place to do business. There's a lot of follow-up to do in Michigan, to develop brand-new relationships with Chinese business leaders. I will return next year to China and hopefully spend more than one day in Beijing.
Journalist: How do you see the potential in building further business collaboration with China?
Snyder: There are lots; there are lots; because of the automotive industry and the agricultural area, two areas that have really been highlighted, but almost any area, that there’s common ground to do business. It’s very exciting.
There’re many market opportunities in China, the sales in China, the export and the new business here. And also, Michigan is one of the open places for business that encourage international trade, immigrants to come; an exciting place.
We have been working diligently to improve Michigan’s business climate and are here to open new doors for trade and business between our state and China. We want to get the message out that Michigan is open for business too, because we’ve gone through very difficult times.
We think we have great values now in Michigan and we are creating a very competitive environment for enterprises to succeed and do well. We’ve redone our tax system, our regulatory system; we’ve just balanced our budget. So we’re doing many things to be very business-friendly. Michigan is already one of the top 10 U.S. states receiving direct investment from China. There're at least 50 Chinese auto-related companies that have set up shops in the Detroit area.
Journalist: Anything else you want to speak to the press?
Snyder: Well, what I want to say is that Michigan had been behind in building relationship from a government’s perspective. And we are very excited about the opportunity. We are going to be very quickly to show that what we're doing are action-based, not just stand and talk, in terms of being among the most business-friendly states in our entire country.
Journalist: Thank you, Mr. Governor.
Snyder: Thank you.
Comments