The Senate Committee on Rules on Monday moved Senate Concurrent Resolution 32 to the Senate floor with an adopted recommendation after sponsors and witnesses described the state’s longstanding subnational engagement with the People’s Republic of China.

Senate President Rob Wagner, one of the sponsors, said Oregon’s sister-state relationship with Fujian Province spans 41 years and with Tianjin Municipality 11 years. "Oregon's relationship with China helps diversify our economy, secures high value jobs and reinforces our leadership in sectors vital to U.S. competitiveness, including semiconductors and clean technology and agriculture," Wagner said, noting Oregon exported nearly $6 billion to China in 2024 and that the trade relationship supports thousands of jobs.

Senator Lou Frederick, who chairs the Oregon China sister-state relationship on the Oregon China Council, described cultural and educational exchanges during a 2019 visit and said citizen-to-citizen ties — including academic, cultural and port-to-port relationships — underpin the resolution. Former Senator Michael Dembrow, a long-time Oregon China Council participant, testified in support by phone and urged sustaining exchanges even as federal-level tensions fluctuate.

Sponsors said the resolution would formalize the Legislature’s support for continued trade, cultural and educational engagement and would accompany plans to convene an Oregon China sister-state committee and potential delegations. The committee adopted the resolution and moved it to the floor with a recommendation that it be adopted.