Senate Resolution No. 876

BY: Senator GRIFFO

WELCOMING Consul General, Ambassador Zhang Qiyue
and members of the Chinese General Chamber of
Commerce to Albany on March 7, 2017, and reaffirming
New York's business ties with China

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
pay tribute to certain individuals of high standard and professionalism
whose singular objective is given to serving the advancement of
democracy in the world; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
welcome Consul General, Ambassador Zhang Qiyue and members of the
Chinese General Chamber of Commerce to Albany, and to reaffirm New
York's business ties with China to be celebrated on Tuesday, March 7,
2017, at the New York State Capitol in Albany, New York; and

WHEREAS, There are 41 pairs of sister states/provinces and 203 pairs
of sister cities between the US and China and the two countries also
established the US-China Governors Forum in January 2011 to support
subnational cooperation, which provides channels and opportunities for
exchange and cooperation between the two countries and peoples; and

WHEREAS, The State of New York takes great pride in acknowledging
its sister city relationships; by establishing such partnerships, it
deepens their mutual understanding, strengthens their mutual trust,
expands consensus, and enhances cooperation; and

WHEREAS, In recent years, New York State has enjoyed fruitful
cooperation with China in a range of areas; currently, China is the
State's biggest trading partner outside of North America; and

WHEREAS, By the end of 2016, Chinese businesses had made a total
investment of 15.5 billion dollars in approximately 120 projects across
New York State; and

WHEREAS, Last year, an MOU was signed to establish a joint working
group between six Chinese provinces and New York to boost mutual trade
and investment; and

WHEREAS, The strong cultural, educational and tourism ties shared by
the State of New York and China have grown substantially over the recent
years and have helped foster strong friendship between our two peoples;
and

WHEREAS, Every year, approximately one million Chinese tourists
visit New York, and a large number of Chinese students attend the
State's exceptional institutions of higher learning; people in both
countries are seeking broader and deeper exchanges and cooperation; and

WHEREAS, The new model of major-country relationship between the US
and China is built on mutual respect and win-win cooperation while
avoiding conflicts and confrontations; and


WHEREAS, The Chinese community has become increasingly significant
and one of the fastest growing communities in the State of New York and
Governor Cuomo signed the law in December 2014 to make Chinese New Year
a public school holiday; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
recognize the ongoing all-around relationship between New York and China
as serving mutual interests in a reciprocal manner; to warmly welcome
Consul General Ambassador Zhang Qiyue and members of the Chinese General
Chamber of Commerce to the New York State Capitol in Albany, New York on
March 7, 2017, which will provide a great opportunity to reinforce the
US-China relationship; to reaffirm its commitment to promoting
relationships with China in such areas as business, education, culture,
tourism and friendship between the two peoples; and to highlight the
significance of the long-term relations with China that will bring
concrete benefits to peoples of both countries; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Ambassador Zhang Qiyue, Consul General, and to the
members of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce.