Wilson Wraps Up Asian Trade Visit

One of the unexpected missions of his 21-day trade-prospecting tour across Asia, Gov. Pete Wilson said on the trip’s last day Thursday, was to correct misconceptions about the state:

Yes, California welcomes legal immigrants.

No, foreign residents can not donate money to Wilson’s next presidential campaign.

No, California is not a nation-state.

But it’s hard to fault people for thinking of California, with its trillion-dollar economy and high-tech and entertainment industries, as a kind of trading nation unto itself. After all, the state stands alone as one of Asia’s largest trading partners.

And during the seven-country trip, Wilson received more than the usual gubernatorial welcome: He rode in police-escorted motorcades and chatted with prime ministers and presidents and billionaires and a king.

“We’ve had unusually good access,” Wilson said as a police escort guided his chauffeured black Lexus through Shanghai’s daredevil traffic.

The California governor is counting on his high-level schmoozing to help smooth the way for the state’s companies.

In Beijing, Wilson used his time with Chinese President Jiang Zemin to discuss not only one of Jiang’s Hollywood favorites--”Gone With the Wind,” as a metaphor for Beijing’s willingness to fight Taiwan’s threatened secession--but also how Hollywood can get more movies into China. Wilson also pressed for better protection from pirates of copyrighted music and films, and encouraged Chinese officials to order more McDonnell Douglas aircraft as a reward for the aviation company’s heavy investment in China.

“Our message was ‘Stay with the one who brung ya,’ ” Wilson said, his voice raspy from recent throat surgery and three weeks of ceaseless speechmaking.

Wilson’s entourage left a smattering of deals and promises in their wake. Among them:

* In Singapore, Chevron Chemical signed an agreement to build a $2-million facility to make additives, sealants and lubricants, and it’s considering an additional plant for Bangkok.

* In Taipei, six Taiwanese high-tech companies announced plans for expansions in California, investing a total $79 million and creating more than 400 jobs. The companies are Umax Data Systems, EliteGroup Computer Systems and First International Computer, all of Fremont; Vanguard International Semiconductor Co. of San Jose; Davicom in Santa Clara; and MRT Technology in Industry.