The China Council for the Promotion of International Trade
(CCPIT) and National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) of the
United States issued a joint statement on Tuesday, agreeing to
work more closely together to develop bilateral trade.
NAM President Jerry Jasinowski is leading the association's
first trade mission to China, from September 10 through 18, as part
of a new effort to increase exports of US-manufactured goods to the
growing China market. The trade mission, which includes
representatives of 11 companies, is visiting Beijing and Shanghai
to meet with business prospects and government officials and engage
in a variety of business development and networking activities.
In the joint statement, CCPIT and NAM agreed to work together to
strengthen trade relations. Sino-US trade is still far below its
potential given the sizes of the two economies and the capabilities
of businesses in both countries.
The parties will also exchange information on trade and business
policies and work to educate businesses on market
opportunities.
Yu Ping, vice chairman of the CCPIT, said that special attention
will be given to promoting business contacts among successful small
and medium-sized companies in both countries and assisting them in
benefiting from trade opportunities.
The joint statement refers to China and the US as "unique
trading partners." The US has the largest, most advanced industrial
base in the world, while China is the fastest-growing large economy
with industry expanding and consumer incomes rising rapidly. Both
countries have much to gain from strengthening trade, the statement
says.
Also in Beijing, US Department of Commerce Undersecretary Grant
Aldonas announced several new trade initiatives with China, such as
the opening of a China Business Information Center in Washington.
The NAM will provide information on these new programs to member
companies and affiliated organizations and help them access the
services.
"Not enough NAM members are taking advantage of the Department
of Commerce's matchmaker programs with Chinese distributors
and end-users," said Jasinowski. "Getting the word out to smaller
manufacturers on the excellent services provided by
the Department of Commerce is one of our trade promotion goals
for the year ahead."
The National Association of Manufacturers is the United States'
largest industry trade association, representing small and large
manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states.
The companies on the mission include Ingersoll-Rand, Dow
Chemical and Revere Copper Products.
Since Sino-US diplomatic relations were established in 1979,
bilateral trade has soared from less than US$2.5 billion to
US$126.3 billion in 2003.
(Xinhua News Agency, China.org.cn September 15, 2004)