Fitial, Calvo pitch tourism opportunities in China meetings

 During his trip to Beijing last week to attend the second U.S.-China Governors Forum, Gov. Benigno R. Fitial seized the opportunity to collaboratively work with Guam Gov. Eddie Calvo in an effort to establish and promote greater ties between their two governments.

Following the conclusion of the Governors Forum, Fitial and Calvo also met with Zhu Shanzhong, deputy director of the National Tourism Administration and deputy secretary general Sha Hailin of the Shanghai Municipal Government.

Fitial, joined by Calvo and members of the Guam delegation, had the opportunity to meet with Li Xiaohua, vice president of the China Association for International Friendly Contact, at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse last Thursday. Li was accompanied by Deng Wenqing, the deputy secretary general of CAIFC.

During their meeting with Li, the island governors expressed the challenges currently besetting the two island jurisdictions of the CNMI and Guam. Fitial and Calvo shared their appreciation for the support and presence of Chinese businesses and visitors in the Marianas.

For his part, Fitial spoke of the Commonwealth’s history and the contributions of Chinese businesses, especially during the period when apparel manufacturing was a thriving industry. He also noted that although those days no longer exist, the CNMI is still able to open its doors to Chinese visitors through the parole authority granted by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

In response to the Chinese officials’ remarks that they have heard positive feedback from Chinese tourists about their reception and their stay in the islands, Fitial said, “I am pleased to see that Chinese tourists still have an interest in visiting the CNMI. We will continue to welcome all our friends from China with open arms and we will continue to work hard to ensure that the safety of our visitors remains our priority.”

“While the CNMI enjoys the benefits of Secretary Napolitano’s parole authority, we remain committed to seeking the proper implementation of the visa waiver program for visitors coming from China and Russia,” said Fitial. “The visa waiver program is prescribed in U.S. Public Law 110-229, so we will continue our efforts to ensure that this provision is complied with at the soonest possible time.”

The Chinese officials expressed their appreciation to Fitial and Calvo for their efforts to work collaboratively for the good of the people of the CNMI and Guam. The Chinese leaders pledged to work closely with both governors in support of their mission to boost visitor arrivals from China.

Both Fitial and Calvo also conveyed their appreciation to CAIFC, NTA, and the Shanghai municipal government for their receptiveness and willingness to assist the CNMI and Guam achieve greater economic success.

“Our people have endured the hardship of a challenging economy for far too long. This is why I have undertaken the initiative to reach across international borders in search of the relief our people long for,” said Fitial. “I have placed a significantly high priority on achieving economic recovery and creating job opportunities for our people.”

Fitial also lauded Calvo for fostering a collaborative spirit to jointly promote the CNMI and Guam as a regional market for tourism and other meaningful investments.

“As a unique chain of islands in the Marianas, the CNMI and Guam have such a unique marketability advantage. Although separated as two government jurisdictions, our islands all share the same warm island hospitality and spirit,” added Fitial. “Thus, the ability to work together with Gov. Calvo for the betterment of our communities is surely a win-win for all.” (Office of the Governor)