Begin forwarded message:

From: Tony Zhao <tzhao@sllf.org>

Subject: SLLF China program

Date: May 11, 2015 at 4:12:35 PM EDT

To: ryane2@state.gov

Cc: Eric Schwerin <eschwerin@rosemontseneca.com>, Stephen Lakis <slakis@sllf.org>

Dear Ms. Evan Ryan,

My name is Tony Zhao, research associate at the State Legislative Leaders Foundation. I am writing to give you a brief update of our engagement with China and to set up a time for your meeting with Steve Lakis, President of the State Legislative Leaders Foundation. 

As Eric has probably briefed you, the SLLF is trying to establish a long-term partnership with the CPAFFC (Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries), facilitating regular exchanges between US state legislative leaders and Chinese provincial heads of the People's Congress. Our previous engagement with China includes a major conference in 2009 with the National People's Congress and an April trip this year to Tianjin and Beijing. Going forward, we are hoping to imitate the model set by the precedent Governor's Forum, co-sponsored by the CPAFFC and the NGA. In order to secure top level approval, we are also trying to add some language into the Joint Statement between President Xi and President Obama during Xi's visit in September expressing their support for sub-national level government exchanges.We are actively engaging with the National People's Congress, CPAFFC, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese Embassy in DC  on the Chinese side and would love to have your advice from the US side. 

Steve is currently on vocation in Europe and will be back on Wednesday May 27. He can be in DC on the Thursday May 28 and Friday 29 or some time early June. We would love the opportunity to meet with you or whomever you designate on behalf of you. Please let us know what would be the most convenient time for you. Thank you very much and look forward to the meeting.

--

Tony Zhao

Research Associate

1645 Falmouth Road | Centerville, MA 02632

202-716-1141 | www.sllf.org