California Gov. Gavin Newsom traveled to China for a surprise meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Wednesday.

Newsom, who reportedly received a ‘warm welcome’ from other senior leaders, is the first American governor to visit China since 2019.

Why are American governors visiting foreign nations?

They serve the men and women living in their respective states.

According to FOX 11 Los Angeles anchor Elex Michaelson, they discussed non-existent climate change and fentanyl abuse.

Here’s the video footage of Newsom meeting with Xi Jinping in China’s Great Hall of the People:

“The governor is on a weeklong tour of China, where he plans to push for climate cooperation,” the Associated Press reports.

“I’m here in expectation, as you suggest, of turning the page, of renewing our friendship and reengaging (on) foundational and fundamental issues that will determine our collective faith in the future,” Newsom said, according to the outlet.

AP reports:

Though Newsom was in China to promote cooperation in curbing climate change, Chinese officials took the opportunity in welcome speeches ahead of the closed-door meetings to talk about U.S.-China relations. Wang is preparing to visit the U.S. on Thursday.

Newsom and Xi discussed ways to “accelerate our progress on climate in meaningful and substantive ways,” the California governor said at a news conference, but did not mention more specifics.

They also talked about fentanyl, a synthetic drug and leading killer of young people in the U.S., and China’s role in combating the transnational shipping of precursor chemicals, Newsom said.

According to China’s state broadcaster CCTV, Xi told Newsom: “I hope your visit will enhance mutual understanding between the two sides and play a positive role in expanding cooperation between China and California and promoting the healthy and stable development of Sino-U.S. relations.”

Gavin Newsom traveled to Israel last week, so there’s rampant speculation the California governor will become a presidential candidate.

“Today Gavin Newsom is in China for a ‘surprise visit’ with a Xi JinPing. Last week, Newsom traveled to Israel. Gavin Newsom is 100% running for President in 2024,” investigative reporter Laura Loomer wrote.

“The swap is taking place right before your eyes. @TheDemocrats know Joe Biden can’t be their nominee,” she added.

Per The Hill:

In a speech at Hong Kong University on Monday, Newsom pledged cooperation on climate change regardless of the outcome of the next U.S. presidential election.

Among other meetings, Newsom met with the head of China’s National Development and Reform Commission and signed a memorandum on deepening cooperation in environmental issues, the AP reported.

Other Governors of California have visited China before, including Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger and Democrat Jerry Brown, who created the California-China Climate Institute at the University of California, Berkley.

 

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