U.S.-China sub-national cooperation to further expand: Des Moines mayor

DES MOINES, the United States, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Frank Cownie, mayor of Des Moines, the largest city in the U.S. mid-western state of Iowa, on Thursday expressed confidence that sub-national cooperation between the United States and China will further expand.

Since the establishment of sister-city relationship between Des Moines and Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China, in 1985, the two sides have maintained active exchanges in various fields, Cownie told Xinhua prior to addressing the Iowa-China Business Forum in the agricultural state's capital.

"I think we have great possibilities to work together and have business together and trade to expand the relationship we've had for so many years," said Cownie.

Iowa and Des Moines are in a more privileged position than other U.S. states and municipalities in improving trade relations with their Chinese partners as Iowa's former governor Terry Branstad is now the top U.S. diplomat in China, he added.

The city government of Des Moines welcomes more Chinese enterprises to come and invest and looks forward to strengthening exchanges and cooperation in environmental protection, culture, education and other areas with China, he said.

Many Des Moines companies also see China as an important market, Cownie said.

Greater Des Moines serves as a government, commercial, cultural and recreational hub for Iowa and the region has one of the best business climates in the United States, he said.

For example, the area is nationally recognized for having a cost of doing business 15 percent below the national average, a low cost of living and an exceptional quality of life -- Des Moines was named among the top 10 best cities to live in America by U.S. News & World Report this month, he said. Enditem