S 0873 Resolution, By Cleary and Rankin
 A SENATE RESOLUTION TO EXPRESS A COMMITMENT TO A STRONGER RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
 THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA IN ORDER TO
 MUTUALLY ENRICH ECONOMIC PROSPERITY AND ESTABLISH A BRIDGE BETWEEN THE TWO
 GREAT COUNTRIES AND THE GREAT PEOPLE IN THEM.

   06/04/15  Senate Introduced (Senate Journal-page 11)
   06/04/15  Senate Referred to Committee on General
                     (Senate Journal-page 11)

TO EXPRESS A COMMITMENT TO A STRONGER RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA IN ORDER TO MUTUALLY ENRICH ECONOMIC PROSPERITY AND ESTABLISH A BRIDGE BETWEEN THE TWO GREAT COUNTRIES AND THE GREAT PEOPLE IN THEM.

Whereas, the United States of America and the People's Republic of China established an official diplomatic relationship in 1979, which has produced remarkable fruits and benefits for the people in both countries; and

Whereas, President Barack Obama of the United States and President Xi Jinping of China stressed in Beijing in November 2014 a desire to promote construction of a new model of a major-country relationship between the two countries and to put into practice principles of no conflict, no confrontation, mutual respect, and win-win cooperation; and

Whereas, the annual trade volume between the United States and China reached over half a trillion dollars in 2013, and the two countries stand as each other's second largest trading partner. China is the largest source of import and third largest destination of export for the United States. The significant increase of trade between the United States and China has created millions of job opportunities in both countries; and

Whereas, there are forty-one pairs of sister states and provinces and two hundred three pairs of sister cities between the United States and China. The two countries also established the U.S.-China Governors Forum in January 2011 to support sub-national cooperation. These relationships provide many channels and opportunities for exchange and cooperation between the people of the two countries; and

Whereas, over ten thousand Americans and Chinese fly across the Pacific Ocean every single day for mutual visits with the purpose of educational exchanges, business opportunities, and tourism. Also, the people in both countries are raising higher demand on broader and deeper exchanges and cooperation; and

Whereas, the State of South Carolina has shared a beneficial relationship with China through strong diplomatic ties, increasing trading cooperation, and frequent exchanges of people; and

Whereas, South Carolina is proud to have one pair of sister cities, Columbia and Yibin. The sister relationship has promoted a long-term, strong, and mutually beneficial friendship between the two cities and also between our State and China; and

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina Senate recognize that the key to these special accomplishments lies in mutual understanding and mutual respect as well as in vision and support from leaders on both sides. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the South Carolina Senate expresses a commitment to a stronger relationship between the State of South Carolina and the People's Republic of China in order to mutually enrich economic prosperity on both sides and establish a bridge between the two great countries and the great people in them.