Jaltemba Sol
California's Schwarzenegger launches U.S.-Mexico border
governors conference
Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- California Governor Arnold
Schwarzenegger on Wednesday launched the 26th annual Border
Governors Conference (BGC) with the aim of "building green
economies" throughout the border region.
Addressing the conference, Schwarzenegger
renewed his pledge to cooperate on increasing environmental
protection, fighting climate change and building commerce in the
U.S.-Mexico border region.
"Together we have accomplished a great deal
over the past year and, today, we are building on our common desire
to make the border region an economic powerhouse by building green
economies that will improve the lives of all border residents,"
Schwarzenegger said at Universal Studios Hollywood.
"Our common border makes us more than just
neighbors, it makes us partners in working to create a more vibrant
economy and healthier environment," he said.
Building on the economic success of
California's environmental leadership, the BGC will focus on
increasing the number of green companies, green initiatives and
green public-private partnerships to create a thriving green
economic border region, the governor said.
The conference is partnering with a leader
in the green revolution, General Electric. With 12 billion dollars
in clean technology revenues in 2006, General Electric will help
underscore the economic and environmental benefits of establishing
the border region as a leader in innovative, clean technology,
according to a statement issued by Schwarzenegger's office.
Spanning nearly 2,000 miles (3,200
kilometers), the U.S.-Mexico border is the busiest international
border in the world with approximately 250 million people crossing
annually.
The U.S. states along the border are California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. The Mexican states are Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas.