Press Release

September 25, 2009     

U.S. Consul General Goldbeck Visits Hainan

U.S. Consul General Brian L. Goldbeck made his first visit to Hainan on September 24 to 25 in order to meet with key government, business and academic leaders, and to experience firsthand the natural beauty that draws many international visitors to the province.  Consul General Goldbeck was accompanied by Environment, Science, Technology and Health Officer Andrew Griffin; Foreign Commercial Service Representative Jerry Kwan; and Public Affairs Officer Robert Palladino. 

This visit to Hainan allowed Consul General Goldbeck the chance to hear about the issues and events shaping commerce in the island province, promote increased U.S. and Chinese trade and investment, and encourage stronger academic and cultural ties between Hainan and the United States.  Toward that end, the Consul General brought a Knox College historian who specializes in Abraham Lincoln, Dr. Douglas Wilson, to Haikou.  Dr. Wilson gave lectures at Hainan University and the Hainan Provincial Government on “Abraham Lincoln and His Legacy: From Emancipation to Barack Obama.”

Consul General Goldbeck's meetings included Vice Governor Li; a luncheon hosted by Hainan Foreign Affairs Officials; Sanya Municipal Government officials; Hainan University faculty and students; the China Institute of Reform and Development; the Hainan Renewable Energy Association; Hainan Airlines Chair Chen Feng; managers of more than a dozen Sanya five-star hotels; Haikou industry leaders, including CCPIT President Wu Jia Hong; Haikou VTI Biological Institute President Lu Yichen; Haima Sales Company Deputy Director for Overseas Marketing Dong Guoqiang; Coconut Palm Group Co., Ltd General Manager Zhao Bo; Hainan Yedao (Group) Co., Ltd Vice General Manager Situo Gongyum; and Meijia Refined Chemical Co. Ltd. General Manager Jiang Yong.

During remarks made at dinner with Haikou industry leaders, Consul General Goldbeck stated: "I am impressed with the physical beauty and also the business and academic attraction of Hainan.  It has experienced rapid development from a quiet tropical island, to a hot spot for tourism, culture, education and civil society in modern China.  American businesses are interested in places like Hainan where we can find opportunities along with dynamic, energetic, and eager partners plus business-friendly attitudes.  We also want to get the word out that the United States is open for business including Chinese investment. We welcome Chinese firms to come to the U.S. to take advantage of our highly skilled and talented work force, our strong infrastructure, our cutting-edge green and energy-saving technology, and our transparent legal system; not to mention access to the world's most lucrative consumer market.”

Reflecting on his trip, Consul General Goldbeck said “Expanding business is part of President Obama's goal of building a positive, comprehensive and constructive relationship between the United States and China. Hainan demonstrates the potential of this partnership.  We encourage Chinese and U.S. business, government and academic organizations to expand their relationships and partnerships. The United States and Hainan share many mutual interests and concerns, and we see excellent opportunities for working together on many issues such as tourism, economic development and trade, educational exchange, intellectual property protection, transparent standards for international travel, and environmental protection, to name a few.  Hainan's beauty and vitality are inspiring, and I look forward to my next visit.”