California Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday stressed the importance of working with technology companies to push for climate and emissions policies during a seminar in Hong Kong.

He was speaking at the University of Hong Kong as part of a week-long trip to China, which includes visits to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong and Jiangsu.

The leader of the most populous state in America stressed that California would continue to engage in climate cooperation regardless of what happens in national politics in the United States.

“I want you to know, regardless of what happens nationally, sub-nationally, you have a partner in the state of California,” he said.

Newsom highlighted joint efforts with the innovation and technology sector to promote clean energy.

"I am challenging the tech industry to do more. Now they are doing it by example. They actually helped lead our efforts to create the conditions where I can sign the emissions bill for large-scale, high-cap companies," he said.

He also said that young people have a role to play in advancing climate action through their innovation.

"You are about to inherit a planet that we messed up. We may be in positions of formal authority, but you have a quality of imagination, you have got to share with your passion, with action."

Newsom said China and the US have long-standing partnerships on the issue of climate change that he wanted to build upon.

Li Yongsheng, deputy commissioner of the Foreign Ministry's office in Hong Kong, said at the opening of the event that Sino-US relations “have shown positive signs of rebounding," and that he believed Newsom's visit will be productive.

Other attendees included Gregory May, US consul general in Hong Kong, Eden Woon, the president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, and Elsie Leung, Hong Kong former secretary for justice. (Additional reporting by AP)
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Last updated: 2023-10-23 HKT 22:09