Focus: Anniversaries
Chen Deming
PRC Minister of Commerce
As China and the United States are about to greet the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, the bilateral relationship is entering an important stage, serving as a link between the past and future. Economic and trade cooperation is an important foundation of the US-China relationship. The advancement of bilateral economic and trade cooperation is important in promoting the progress of a constructive cooperative relationship between the two nations. After 30 years of development, the volume of bilateral trade between China and the United States has grown from less than $2.5 billion in 1979 to $302.1 billion in 2007, a more than 120-fold increase. The two countries have become each other's second-largest trading partner. For six years in a row, China has been the fastest-growing major export market for the United States. The bilateral economic and trade cooperation has a solid foundation and a vast range of prospects. As the meeting points of interest increase constantly and the economic ties between the two parties become closer and closer, the mutually beneficial and complementary pattern of economic inter-dependence is further strengthened and solidified.
At present, world economic and financial situations are intricate, and global economic prospects are not optimistic. Against the background of ever-deepening economic globalization, keeping contact, enhancing dialogue, properly addressing issues in bilateral economic and trade relations, and jointly dealing with difficulties and challenges between the governments and business circles of China and the United States are not only in line with the fundamental interests of the two nations and their peoples but also beneficial to the prosperity and stability of the world economy.
For 35 years since its founding, the US-China Business Council has made long-term and unremitting efforts to promote the development of US-China economic and trade relations. In supporting China's accession to the World Trade Organization, promoting the realization of a permanent normal trade relationship between China and the United States, and extending dialogue and exchanges between the business circles of the two nations, in particular, the Council has done tremendous, fruitful work, becoming an important power in promoting bilateral economic and trade cooperation, for which I am deeply appreciative.
Such matters should be considered broadly over the longer term. China will firmly take the road of reform and opening up to the outside world to promote better and faster development of our national economy. We are willing to expand cooperation with the United States in trade, investment, energy, and high-tech fields, to strengthen coordination of both parties on macroeconomic policies, to jointly oppose trade protectionism of any form, to properly resolve problems and disputes, to deepen bilateral business relationships, and to make greater efforts for the common prosperity of the two nations and the world.
Copyright 2008 US-China Business Council
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