SALT LAKE CITY, United States - The first ever China-US Governors Forum opened here on Friday. Chinese President Hu Jintao and his US counterpart Barack Obama sent congratulatory messages to the forum.

In his message, Hu said the successful launch of the forum and its future development will build a new bridge between Chinese provinces and US states, create a new platform for deepening the understanding between the two peoples, and make positive contribution to constructing a cooperative partnership based on mutual respect and mutual benefit.

US President Barack Obama also sent his congratulatory letter to the forum.

China-US Governors Forum is jointly organized by Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and the National Governors Association (NGA) of the United States. A ground breaking measure to enhance cooperation at the local level between the two countries, it is one of the important achievements during Hu's visit to the United States in January.

A number of Chinese provincial leaders and over 30 US governors attended the forum. The two sides engaged in productive conversations over topics of trade, investment, energy, environment, education and youth cooperation.

During the forum, CPAFFC and NGA signed a Memorandum of Understanding, pledging to make the forum a long-term mechanism.

The first ever China-U.S. Governors Forum provided a new platform to promote cooperation between the two sides in areas of trade, investment, energy, environment and people to people exchanges, Zhang Yesui, Chinese Ambassador to the United States said Friday.

Zhang noted that during the past decade, 47 US states' export to China have grown over 100 percent. Last year, 24 states' export to China exceeded 1 billion dollars. Cooperation in other areas has also shown positive momentum in development, bringing great benefit for both peoples, while showing tremendous potential and prospects for local cooperation between the two countries.

Zhang said the success of the first China-US Governors Forum will lay a sound foundation for a long-term cooperation on the sub-national level between China and the United States, providing new momentum for the comprehensive development of China-U.S. relations.