California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during a news conference, Thursday, May 25, 2023, in Richmond, California. Photo: VCG

California Governor Gavin Newsom is set to arrive in China for a weeklong trip on Monday, during which he will focus on climate change and bilateral economic development. As a Democratic governor who many have dubbed US President Jo Biden's "top surrogate," as well as governor of the state where the upcoming APEC Leaders' Meeting will be held, Newsom is expected to play a positive role in US-China relations, especially in helping advance regional and subnational diplomatic interactions, some experts said. 

Newsom aims to discuss climate cooperation, promote bilateral economic development and tourism and encourage cultural exchanges, Reuters reported, citing the California governor's office. The trip will include visits to a number of cities and regions, including Beijing, Shanghai and East China's Jiangsu and South China's Guangdong provinces, and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. 

Newsom is expected to sign a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Guangdong on climate issues, and he will also meet with regional leaders to discuss the shift toward electric vehicles and public transportation, according to the media report. And he will also sign additional MOUs in Beijing aimed at advancing climate cooperation between the two sides.

The US official is also expected to visit Tesla's factory in Shanghai, the Voice of America said. His efforts to resume exchanges with China are built on California's 15-year-long close relationship with Beijing on trade and climate issues. 

California is not only the largest economic state and the most populous state in the US, but also a stronghold for the Democratic Party. As an increasingly significant figure within the party, Newsom can discuss relevant issues with China in a relatively composed manner, and he does not need to consider elections, Lü Xiang, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Sunday. 

"Whether it's his personal election within the state or how California performs as a whole in next year's presidential election, there are no concerns in these areas, so he will be more at ease," Lü said. 

Some Chinese experts pointed out that the focus of Newsom's visit to China is evidently to bridge the gaps and smooth the less-than-ideal communication channels between Washington and Beijing, considering the close relationship between him and Biden. 

"What sets Newsom apart is that he is a governor not a federal government official, which makes his visit to China particularly significant in strengthening communication across various fields between local US governments and China," Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Sunday. 

"It's a clear embodiment of what we often refer to as enhancing local and people-to-people exchanges between China and the US," Li said, noting that strengthening ties at the grassroots and local levels is a fundamental approach to stabilizing and improving US-China relations. 

China welcomes Governor Newsom and his delegation to China and hopes that the visit will produce good results and bolster California's exchanges and cooperation with China, Mao Ning, a spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said at a press conference on Thursday. 

China encourages interactions between Chinese and Americans from all walks of life and supports sub-national efforts to expand exchanges and cooperation in such fields as economy and trade, science and technology, education, culture and youth, so as to bring more benefits to the two peoples and inject more positive energy into China-US relations, Mao said. 

Newsom's trip follows recent visits to China by a number of Biden administration officials including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.

Today, China-US relations are at another critical juncture. Both sides must act with a sense of responsibility toward history, the world and their peoples, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu said at dedication ceremony to name the US ambassador's residence in Beijing Bush House after George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush on Friday. 

By focusing on shared interests, demonstrating political courage, and showing political wisdom, we need to properly manage differences, expand mutually beneficial cooperation, promote people-to-people friendship, and steer China-US relations back onto the right track of development, Ma said. 

"Newsom is the regional leader of the state where the upcoming APEC Leaders' Meeting will be held, so he may bring up some expectations on behalf of the US leaders in an unofficial way," Lü said. 

While he represents the Democratic Party to some extent, he is not constrained by the current federal bureaucratic system. "Therefore, after the visit, I believe Newsom will definitely have the opportunity to offer some constructive suggestions to President Biden," the expert said. 

The essence of the climate change issue is a technological and economic problem, including finding new opportunities in energy and new technologies. As governor, he has the responsibility to expand California's export market not only in technology but also in agriculture, Lü said. 

Against the backdrop where the minds of federal government officials and their policies have been influenced by geopolitical competition and hegemonic mindsets, communication and exchange between US localities and China have become particularly vital and need to be strengthened, some experts noted. 

"China's diplomacy toward the US has long emphasized multi-dimensionality, spanning various fields and levels," Li said. "When communication and exchanges at the federal or governmental levels face challenges, visits to China by US localities, counties, or non-governmental groups serve as a safety net for US-China relations, ensuring a foundation for the stability of bilateral ties."