On April 11, 2013, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met with visiting California Governor Jerry Brown in Ziguangge, Zhongnanhai.

Li hailed the robust growth of Sino-American ties in the past 40-plus years. He said global impact of China-U.S. relations is on the rise, noting that bilateral relations have entered a transitional period. Both sides should continue to strive for the building of a partnership featuring mutual respect and benefit and a new type of inter-power relations.

Exchanges and cooperation between the two nations at various local levels formed an important part and social basis of the bilateral relations, he said, citing the facts that California is the biggest economic powerhouse in the United States, home to one third of the population of Chinese in the country, and has unique advantages in combining innovation and education. The state has a solid foundation for cooperation with China. "I hope the two sides can step up their cooperation in sectors such as high technology, clean energy, culture and humanity," the Chinese premier added. He encouraged the American state to boost its cooperation with China to lay a solid foundation for the smooth development of bilateral relations.

Brown said California, a gateway to the Pacific, welcomes more investment and students from China and is committed to promoting friendly exchanges, cooperation and mutual trust between the two nations.