SR 18 (LSB 2802XS (5) 88)

SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 18

BY  NUNN

A Resolution reaffirming 40 years of diplomatic relations between the United States and the People’s Republic of China.

   WHEREAS, on January 1, 1979, the United States and the People’s Republic of China officially established diplomatic relations, with 2019 marking the 40th anniversary of United States-China relations; and
   WHEREAS, since the United States ship “Empress of China” sailed to China over 230 years ago, trade and exchanges between the United States and China have continued, transforming the world in the process; and
   WHEREAS, exchanges and cooperation between the two countries have resulted in historic achievements: visits between the two countries have increased from only several thousand visits 40 years ago to over 5.3 million visits in 2017; bilateral trade volume has increased from less than $2.5 billion 40 years ago to more than $580 billion in 2017; and two-way investment between the two countries was almost zero 40 years ago but by 2017 cumulatively amounted to over $230 billion; and
   WHEREAS, not only do the United States and China benefit from this relationship, but the world has benefitted from the close ties between the United States and China; and
   WHEREAS, the State of Iowa has been dedicated to developing cooperative relations with China for decades, including by former Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, currently serving as United States Ambassador to China; and
   WHEREAS, China’s total purchases of Iowa goods during 2018, including agricultural and manufactured products, made China Iowa’s fourth largest purchaser of Iowa goods; and
   WHEREAS, the State of Iowa established a sister state relationship with Hebei Province of China in 1983, and Des Moines and Shijiazhuang established a sister city relationship in 1985, all of which promote friendly exchanges between Iowa and China; NOW THEREFORE,

   BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE, That the Senate commemorates the 40-year anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States and China and supports continued diplomatic, economic, and people-to-people cooperation between the State of Iowa and the People’s Republic of China; and

   BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Secretary of the Senate is hereby directed to send copies of this Resolution to the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Chicago, Illinois.