H-0810.2 _______________________________________________
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 4404
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State of Washington 54th Legislature 1995 Regular Session
By Representatives Foreman, Ebersole, Van Luven, Sheldon, Chandler, Mastin, Horn, Scott, R. Fisher, Thompson, Johnson, Carlson, Huff, Campbell, Costa, Mason, B. Thomas, Schoesler and McMahan
Read first time 01/25/95. Referred to Committee on Trade & Economic Development.
WHEREAS, The State of Washington in the United States of America and the Province of Taiwan R.O.C. have an extensive cultural, economic, and political relationship; and
WHEREAS, The manifestation of these relationships can be found in the fact that more than seven and one-half billion dollars in trade was done between the State of Washington and the Province of Taiwan R.O.C. in 1993 and the Province of Taiwan R.O.C. provided the State of Washington with its fourth most important source of foreign tourism; and
WHEREAS, The State of Washington has chosen to recognize the special nature of the relationship of the partners by the establishment of a Trade Office in Taipei; and
WHEREAS, The benefits of a continued expansion of trade between the State of Washington and the Province of Taiwan R.O.C. include increases in trade-related employment and greater markets for the products of both states; and
WHEREAS, The State of Washington and the Province of Taiwan R.O.C. have worked together to have officially sponsored exchanges in the fine arts, recreation, and political fields; and
WHEREAS, Such exchanges provide opportunities for the people of the State of Washington and the people of the Province of Taiwan R.O.C. to benefit by gaining a greater appreciation for the history, fine arts, political institutions, and culture of each other;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the House of Representatives of the State of Washington, the Senate concurring, That the State of Washington declares that it agrees to enter into a sister state relationship with the Province of Taiwan R.O.C.; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a Memorandum of Understanding between the states implementing a sister state relationship, shall identify an association within each state which will, at a minimum:
(1) Sustain and enhance cooperation between the two states, with special emphasis on urban management and development, arts, trade, culture, and education; and
(2) For Washington State, establish a trade, investment and tourism committee with representatives from the Governor's office, department of community, trade, and economic development, one or more public ports, the tourist and convention industry, the trade development alliance of greater Seattle, one or more economic development councils, and growers of exported agricultural products; and
(3) For the Province of Taiwan, a similar committee will be established; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the associations and their committees shall have as members representatives of their respective business communities and other interested individuals and entities; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the associations and their committees shall be led by officers to coordinate and energize their activities, and to raise and provide funds to pay the costs of government officials' activities in the furtherance of the goals of the associations; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the officers and members of both associations shall endeavor to meet together as a group at least annually and will visit one another as frequently as schedules permit, with coordination guided through the exchange of annual work plans and budgets; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Governor of the State of Washington is encouraged to continue to use the influence of the Office of Governor to promote increased trade, cultural exchanges, and tourism between the two sister states.
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