MEDIA RELEASE

Gov. Linda Lingle leaves Friday, June 4 for a two-week tourism, trade and investment mission to China and Japan. Here is her schedule:

* JUNE 4 – 5
Travel from Honolulu to Shanghai. Lingle will lead a delegation to China to build on the state’s strategic efforts to strengthen Hawaii’s long-term economy by tapping China’s emerging tourism market, as well as attracting Chinese investments and partnerships in clean energy and international trade. The governor will also officially launch the start of “Hawaii Week” at the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai.

* SUNDAY, JUNE 6 – Shanghai
No meetings scheduled.

* MONDAY, JUNE 7 – Shanghai
Lingle will deliver the keynote address at the American Chamber of Commerce Shanghai Distinguished Speakers Series luncheon. The governor will discuss opportunities to partner with China on the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative, as well as efforts to promote tourism, trade and investments.
The governor will be a featured speaker at a forum hosted by the ELS American Education Center in Shanghai to promote the benefits of studying at Hawaii’s colleges and universities. The forum will include leaders from the University of Hawaii, Hawaii Pacific University and ELS Language Center Honolulu. In addition to Shanghai, the forum also will be held in Beijing.
Lingle will deliver remarks at a reception hosted by Marriott International. The governor will discuss Hawaii’s initiatives to increase travel from China with travel trade partners.

* TUESDAY, JUNE 8 – Shanghai
Lingle will officially kickoff “Hawaii Week” at the USA Pavilion at the 2010 World Expo at Shanghai. She will be joined by legislative leaders, representatives from the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA), the visitor industry and entertainers from Hawaii. The Expo is expected to attract more than 70 million visitors, 86 percent of whom will come from China.
The governor will deliver remarks at a Hawaii Day luncheon. Attendees will include CEOs of China’s travel-related companies and airlines, as well as Chinese government officials.
Lingle is scheduled to conduct a series of interviews with Chinese print and television media to promote Hawaii tourism and business opportunities, including Hawaii Week at the World Expo.
Lingle will be a featured speaker at an Aloha Night dinner reception, which will be attended by Chinese travel and trade partners, major tour wholesalers, airline partners, Chinese government officials and Chinese travel media.

* WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9 – Shanghai
Lingle will participate in the World Trade Center Association Day at the World Trade Center Pavilion at the World Expo in Shanghai where she will promote Hawaii exports.
The governor will tour the China Pavilion at the World Expo. She will meet with Zhao Zhenge, deputy director general of the China Pavilion. Zhao is a graduate of the University of Hawaii.
Lingle will deliver remarks at an “Invest in Hawaii” seminar. Throughout the China mission, the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) will hold a series of “Invest in Hawaii” seminars to provide potential investors with information on Hawaii’s economic and investment climate, as well as the state’s immigrant investment program in which foreign nationals investing in businesses that create 10 full-time jobs for U.S. workers can obtain permanent residency.
Travel from Shanghai to Guangzhou.

* THURSDAY, JUNE 10 – Guangzhou, Guangdong Province
The governor will address Chinese business executives at the “Economy and Investment Environment in Hawaii” forum sponsored by the Bank of Hawaii.
Lingle will deliver remarks at an “Invest in Hawaii” seminar. Throughout the China mission, the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) will hold a series of “Invest in Hawaii” seminars to provide potential investors with information on Hawaii’s economic and investment climate, as well as the state’s immigrant investment program in which foreign nationals investing in businesses creating ten full-time jobs for U.S. workers can obtain permanent residency.

* FRIDAY, JUNE 11 – Guangzhou, Guangdong Province
Lingle will meet with Gugangdong Province Gov. Huang Hua Hua as part of the 25th anniversary celebration of the sister-state-province relationship between the State of Hawaii and Guangdong Province. Lingle and Huang will sign a memorandum of understanding for continued cooperation for the next 25 years between Hawaii and Guangdong in the areas of trade, investment, education and cultural opportunities.
The Guangdong Foreign Affairs Office will also host a “Guangdong Province and State of Hawaii Sister-State-Province 25th Anniversary Celebration.” In addition to Lingle, leaders from the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii and the 2010 Narcissus Tour will participate in the celebration.

* SATURDAY, JUNE 12 – Kunming, Yunnan Province
Travel from Guangzhou to Kunming.
Lingle and Yunnan Province Vice Governor Liu Ping will meet to discuss clean energy partnership opportunities between Hawaii and Yunnan. Vice Governor Liu is also in charge of the province’s tourism sector. Leaders of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii will participate in the meeting and join Lingle at a reception hosted by Yunnan Province.

* SUNDAY, JUNE 13 – Kunming, Yunnan Province
No meetings scheduled.

* MONDAY, JUNE 14 – Beijing
Travel from Kunming to Beijing.
Lingle will meet with U.S. Ambassador Jon Huntsman to discuss tourism issues, including the visa application process for Chinese travelers. They will also address the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative as well as the Asia-Pacific Clean Energy Summit and Expo that the State will hold in August in Honolulu. The focus of the summit will be China renewable energy, investments and policies. Lingle previously worked closely with Ambassador Huntsman when he was the Governor of Utah and met with him in China and Hawaii following his appointment as Ambassador to China.
The governor will meet with officials of the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA), the country’s tourism ministry, to build on the progress made since Hawaii and the CNTA formed a cooperative agreement following the governor’s first business trip to China in 2005 to increase two-way travel between Hawaii and China.
Madame Li Xiaolin, vice president of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, will host a dinner reception in honor of Lingle and the Hawaii delegation.

* TUESDAY, JUNE 15 – Beijing
The governor will be a featured speaker at a forum to promote the benefits of studying at Hawaii’s colleges and universities. The forum will include leaders from the University of Hawaii, Hawaii Pacific University and ELS Language Center Honolulu.
Lingle will deliver remarks at an “Invest in Hawaii” seminar. Throughout the China mission, the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) will hold a series of “Invest in Hawaii” seminars to provide potential investors with information on Hawaii’s economic and investment climate, as well as the State’s immigrant investment program in which foreign nationals investing in businesses that create 10 full-time jobs for U.S. workers can obtain permanent residency.
Lingle and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii delegation will attend a dinner at China’s Great Hall of the People, hosted by the China Association for International Friendship.

* WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16 – Beijing / Tokyo
Travel from Beijing to Tokyo.

* THURSDAY, JUNE 17 – Tokyo
Lingle and Hawaii Tourism Authority officials will hold a series of meetings with senior travel partners, airline executives and government officials, including: Takashi Sasaki, chairman, JTB Corp.; Masaru Onishi, president and COO, Japan Airlines; Akira Kanai, chairman, Japan Association of Travel Agents; Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport officials.
The governor is scheduled to do interviews with Japanese travel and trade media to promote Hawaii tourism opportunities.

* FRIDAY, JUNE 18 – Tokyo
The governor will continue to meet with senior travel partners, airline executives and government officials, including: James Muller, vice president – Pacific, United Airlines; Jeffrey Bernier, managing director – Japan, Delta Air Lines; Shinya Katanozaka, executive vice president, All Nippon Airways; Akira Hirabayashi, president, H.I.S. Co., Ltd.; Yoshinori Ochi, senior managing director, Kinki Nippon Tourist Co., Ltd.; and Steve Yang, vice president-Japan, China Airlines

* SATURDAY, JUNE 19 – Tokyo / Honolulu
Return to Honolulu.