The Governor of one of China’s largest coal-producing provinces visited Wyoming Wednesday, meeting with University and State officials. The Jackson Hole Center for Global Affairs organized the visit by Li Xiaopeng and other top officials of Shanxi province.
Center President David Wendt says the goal is to foster more cooperation between Wyoming and Shanxi on issues relating to carbon capture.
“Obviously some of these projects are expensive, and financially challenged, and so it would be very beneficial for both sides to recognize common interests in long-term investments in these technologies,” he said.
Chinese companies have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in Wyoming in recent years, but primarily in oil and gas, not coal.
No formal agreements are expected out of this visit, but Governor Matt Mead did sign a formal memorandum of understanding with one of Shanxi’s neighboring provinces, Shaanxi, earlier this month.