Facts & Figures of Alaska

with its gas pipeline and LNG facility is an excellent opportunity to partner in the development of an energy export project using skills already developed in China.

A: Alaska can be a wonderful Chinese tourist destination during both summer and winter. Summers offer spectacular beauty and outdoor opportunities, while the winters offer amazing beauty with the great Northern Lights dancing across the sky.

To assist Chinese travelers headed to Alaska, the Alaska International Airport System (AIAS) met with Consul General Luo (Lin quan) in San Francisco in June, as well as the North American headquarters staff for Air China airlines. Discussions centered on the potential for nonstop passenger service between Anchorage and China as well as tourism, air cargo, and trade opportunities.

AIAS staff then went to Beijing and met with Air China headquarters executives as well as the Civil Aviation Administration of China to discuss scheduled passenger service between China and Alaska as well as air cargo, tourism and trade opportunities.

Finally, the AIAS hosted the Shanghai Airport Authority (SAA) in July to discuss airport partnership and collaboration initiatives related to air cargo, customs processing and cargo transfer operations. AIAS currently has a Memorandum of Agreement with the SAA that was executed during the Alaska Air Cargo Summit held in

A: As you can see from my previous response, we have already begun the process for direct flights from China to Alaska. Given the many areas of mutual benefits between China and Alaska, we will continue to work towards direct flights during both the winter and summer. To achieve that goal, we will continue to reach out to Chinese airlines and tourist companies to begin the direct flights.

Alaska fishermen catch cod fish in the ocean. China is now the largest trade partner for Alaska. Of the total $1.2 billion export to China in 2016, more than half was fish.

A: (My trip to China is) to continue to strengthen ties with Alaska’s largest trading partner, and to tell China about how our state’s vast resource opportunities can provide China with stable energy for decades to come.

A: Being over twice the size of Texas, Alaska is America’s largest state. Given our close shipping location to China and our vast natural resources, it is only natural for Alaska and China to continue to strengthen our trade opportunities. Also, the opening of the Arctic for shipping routes from Asia to Europe provides opportunities for enhanced trade and investment by Chinese companies in Alaska. We look forward to continuing to build on the long trade history between China and Alaska.

GOVERNOR’S OFFICE OF ALASKA. PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE ALASKA GOVERNOR BILL WALKER 11th governor of Alaska, serving since December 1, 2014 Age: Political Party: Independent (2014 to present) Education: BS degree from Lewis and Clark College Law degree from University of Puget Sound School of Law (now Seattle University) Marital Status: Married Donna in 1977, with four children and five grandchildren Hobby: Downhill skiing, fishing, boating, snow-machining, ice skating Chinese President Xi Jinping met Governor Bill Waker in Alaska on April 7 after a two-day summit with US President Trump in Florida.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE OF ALASKA.