On January 19, Chinese Consul General Xu Erwen visited the State of Arkansas and met with Governor Mike Beebe. Consul Yao Weike and Governor’s Chief of Staff Mr. Morril Harriman, Interim Executive Director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission Mr. Grant Tennille were present.

Consul General Xu briefed Governor Beebe on the latest development of China-US relations as well as China’s cooperation with the Southern US states including Arkansas. She said that, the friendly exchanges and cooperation between China and Arkansas have been growing rapidly and achieved fruitful results. During the past 10 years, Arkansas’s export to China increased by 1046%, compared with 88% to the rest of the world. Enterprises from Arkansas have good business record in China while more and more Chinese enterprises are seeking business opportunities in Arkansas. The two sides are facing unprecedented opportunities of cooperation. She expects to join hands with Governor Beebe in expanding the cooperation between China and Arkansas.

Governor Beebe gave his warm welcome to Consul General Xu and expressed appreciation of Consul General Xu’s efforts to promote the friendly exchanges between Arkansas and China. He applauded China’s rapid economic growth despite the global economic downturn, and looked forward to give full play of Arkansas’s advantages on location, transportation, low labor cost and good investment environment to attract more Chinese investments to Arkansas and have stronger educational and cultural cooperation with China.

The State of Arkansas, nicknamed "the Natural State", has rich natural resources. It is an important agricultural state in the U.S. and its manufacturing industry is also developing rapidly in recent years. Arkansas is home to many Fortune 500 enterprises, including Walmart, Murphy Oil, Tyson Foods Inc., Dillard's Inc, etc.