Hawaii Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz is meeting with Chinese government leaders in Beijing to build ties ahead of upcoming conferences in Honolulu.

Schatz and China are preparing for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in November and the Asia Pacific Clean Energy Summit in September. Both events will be held at the Hawai‘i Convention Center.

KHON-TV reported Wednesday that Schatz met with the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, the Chinese equivalent of the National Chamber of Commerce.

Schatz is helping organize 150 Chinese CEOs for a bilateral business reception during APEC. Schatz also is discussing the possibility of Hawaii holding a clean energy forum with CEOs from both Hawaii and China during APEC.