Governor Meets with Ambassador of China

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 6, 2004 No. 04-183

Governor Meets with Ambassador of China Encourages Increased Purchases of Alaska Resources

(Anchorage) - Governor Frank H. Murkowski encouraged the People's Republic of China to expand its purchases of Alaska's natural resources, during a meeting here Wednesday with the Ambassador of the People's Republic of China, Jiechi Yang.

"China is a good fit for many of Alaska's natural resources," the governor said. "Exports continue to be an important part of our state's economy and it was good to be able to spotlight opportunities with this high-ranking representative of Alaska's fourth largest export market."

In 2003 China purchased over $150 million in Alaska products, primarily seafood, followed by zinc and logs. "Although China's own natural resources are vast, not all of them are located close to the population centers or easily developed," said Margy Johnson, director of the governor's Office of International Trade. "China is an important buyer in global markets, and Alaska continues to enjoy the positive trade relationship that we established in the 1980s."

Yang visited Alaska at the invitation of the Alaska World Affairs Council. While in Alaska, he visited oil field production facilities in the Cook Inlet and on the North Slope. Yang was interested in Alaska's tourism infrastructure and believes that Alaska will attract more large numbers of China's increasingly sophisticated international travelers. The ambassador toured Prince William Sound and Alyeska Resort while he was in Alaska. He was accompanied by his wife, Aimei Le, who is a consul in the Embassy.

Murkowski has one of the highest profiles within Asia of any sitting governor, because of his 22 years as a U.S. senator. The governor receives foreign dignitaries on a steady basis. In the past six months, the governor has also met with, and promoted Alaska's exports to, government and business representatives who have traveled to the state from Canada, Korea, Japan and Taiwan.

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