The Connecticut China Council was founded in 1989 as a result of then Governor William O’Neill’s visit to China, accompanied by a delegation of Connecticut business leaders and educators. As a result of that trip, Governor O’Neill signed a sister-state agreement with the Governor of Shandong Province in Jinan, China. Subsequently, the Cou
The Connecticut China Council was founded in 1989 as a result of then Governor William O’Neill’s visit to China, accompanied by a delegation of Connecticut business leaders and educators. As a result of that trip, Governor O’Neill signed a sister-state agreement with the Governor of Shandong Province in Jinan, China. Subsequently, the Council was formed as a nonprofit corporation to assist the State in administering this sister-state relationship. In the years since the Governor’s trip, the Council has been instrumental in furthering the Shandong Province relationship. Over the years, the Council has hosted numerous delegations from Shandong Province, has been instrumental in and establishing sister school relationships between Connecticut high schools and Shandong Province middle schools, and helped form and participated in the Connecticut China Scholars Program. The Council has cooperated with the State of Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development in running an all-day conference in Hartford between government officials and business leaders from Shandong Province and from Connecticut. Our members have made trips to Shandong Province to strengthen the sister-state relationship. The Council has been at the heart of most of Connecticut’s activities with Shandong Province, as well as official Connecticut activities with delegations from other Chinese provinces and municipalities. In 2011 the Connecticut China Council sent a delegation of Connecticut business and government leaders to Shandong Province. As a consequence of that delegation visit, an invitation was extended to Governor Dannel Malloy to visit Shandong Province. In September of 2012, Governor Malloy made an official visit to Shandong Province, which visit elevated the sister-state relationship to new heights. Since then delegation visits both ways have occurred with greater frequency, and both sides have strengthened our collective efforts to make the relationship more meaningful. In 2019, Shandong Province, coordinated by its Foreign Affairs Office (FAO) sent a delegation of business and government leaders to Connecticut and the Connecticut China Council sent a delegation of business leaders to Jinan, Shandong Province, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of our sister-state relationship.
The Connecticut China Council's mission is: (1) To assist the State of Connecticut in administering its sister-state relationship with Shandong Province; and (2) To promote the development of business for Connecticut companies and other entities with Jinan Province, specifically, and China, generally.
Our Shandong Province Committee focuses on helping Connecticut companies and other entities do business with Shandong Province, whose prominent cities include Jinan and Qingdao, and hosting delegations from Shandong Province. It serves as an educational and networking resource. Our China Business Committee focuses on helping Connecti
Our Shandong Province Committee focuses on helping Connecticut companies and other entities do business with Shandong Province, whose prominent cities include Jinan and Qingdao, and hosting delegations from Shandong Province. It serves as an educational and networking resource. Our China Business Committee focuses on helping Connecticut companies do business with China generally, whether through exporting, importing or foreign direct investment (FDI). It has held several networking and educational events focused on business issues facing the Connecticut companies doing business with China. The Council’s programs touch on various aspects, such as hiring issues, intellectual property protection, negotiation and cultural issues, tariffs and shipping, together with the many opportunities and challenges one faces in doing business in China. Indeed, with a population of more than 1.4 billion and the world's second largest economy, China has emerged as the engine of world economic growth. In addition to hosting delegations, the Council's activities include educational and networking events. It also participates with the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) and other partners within the State to promote Connecticut-China relations. Besides working closely with the Connecticut DECD, we work closely with other governmental agencies, including the U.S. Department of Commerce Export Assistance Center in Middletown, Connecticut, in promoting the sister-state relationship with Shandong Province. We have participated in State and U.S. Department of Commerce events, including the hosting of Shandong Province delegations, and in discussions on State policy in favor of promoting business in Shandong Province and China.