As trade tensions ratchet up, there's at least one US state that doesn't share the Trump administration's view. The Democratic stronghold of California has taken steps to emphasize the significance of its relationship with China. CGTN's Mark Niu reports from Silicon Valley.

China is the 2nd largest economy in the world, and California - even though it's just a US state - the fifth largest. The massive volume of trade between the two is partly why so many "Golden State" businesses want trade to continue uninterrupted-and to have Chinese tourists to keep visiting.

CASSANDRA COSTELLO PUBLIC POLICY VICE PRESIDENT, SAN FRANCISCO TRAVEL "Since 2015 we've seen a 20% increase and we're projecting continual increase through 2019. So I want to continue to welcome our Chinese visitors."

MARK NIU CALIFORNIA "And now the California State Assembly has taken the unusual step of passing a resolution - AJR 44 - which declares that the state legislature actively support continued collaboration between California and China, including in the areas of trade, tourism, technology and innovation to name a few. It also highlights a number of facts - including that California does more business with China than any other US state, that there are 20 daily flights between California and Chinese major cities, and that there are 20 pairs of sisters cities between the two."

The resolution was introduced by California Assemblymember Evan Low, who in 2009, became the youngest Asian American elected mayor in the United States.

The fourth-generation Chinese American says he hopes the declaration will influence the way state politicians and economic trade offices strategize.

EVAN LOW CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY MEMBER "Should there be tax benefits and credits, should there be formalized relationships with the state of California in response to the tariffs that exist and may offset some of the challenges that we see at the federal level. We want to provide greater certainty and commitment to those in China to demonstrate that we are open for business."

Making sure China knows the city of San Francisco is still open for business with China has been the job of ChinaSF, which gets a grant from the city.

DARLENE CHIU BRYANT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CHINASF "I would call it business as usual. Business is an activity where you know you are flexible, you are fluid."

But Chiu Bryant admits that amid the current trade tensions, the U.S. State Department has rejected a higher number of visa applications from potential Chinese investors.

In fact, Low says one of the reasons he introduced AJR-44 is to prevent a potential backlash.

EVAN LOW CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY MEMBER "I have significant concern with respect to the trade wars and seeing what can be exacerbated from that. In other words, will we see discrimination in the United States toward individuals of Chinese descent because of the increased rhetoric of the division that occurs. So again, what is our obligation? What is our role to ensure that we can be active and we can be present in helping to build a bridge between various entities of natural conflict."

It also urges both the US Congress and US President Donald Trump to support actions that further strengthen economic links between the US, California and China. Mark Niu, CGTN.