US Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez said in Beijing Wednesday that the US-China trade problems have little chance to be politicized.

 

Gutierrez made the remarks at a meeting in Beijing after three days' visit in China.

 

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Qin Gang said earlier that China maintains the trade frictions and problems between China and the US should be properly handled through consultation and not be politicized.

 

"That is a point of view with which we both agree," said Gutierrez, adding that the bilateral trade involves "too many jobs and too much investment" for it to be politicized.

 

"It is almost a US$250 billion trade with a lot of commercial resources and a lot of jobs," said Gutierrez.

 

The US-China trade should be within the framework of business relationship, focusing on how to improve business itself, he said.

 

Addressing a full house of people from the business and media circles, Gutierrez said that trade between the two countries is already one of the world's most important economic relationships.

 

The United States draws "significant benefits" from commerce with China, he said. "Our consumers gain additional choices and many American companies are operating profitably in China."

 

Gutierrez also said the US draws "significant benefits" from its commerce with China.

 

Gutierrez said that US consumers gain "additional choices" and many American companies are operating profitably in China.

 

Citing the latest survey on business climate conducted by AmCham (American Chamber of Commerce), Gutierrez said that two thirds of the responding companies have expanded the range of products and services they offer in China.

 

"America also benefited from trade with China," he said, "US exports to China grew by 20 percent last year, which built on 22 percent growth from the year before."

 

Gutierrez said that the Chinese leadership has "foresighted vision and courage" in finding its way towards becoming an innovation society.

 

"The US is willing to offer up partnership and cooperation in intellectual property with China," Gutierrez said.

 

Gutierrez met in Beijing Wednesday with head of China's intellectual property office.

 

At a roundtable meeting, Gutierrez exchanged views with Tian Lipu, commissioner of the Intellectual Property Office, on China's protection for intellectual property.

 

Gutierrez arrived in the southwestern municipality of Chongqing on Monday to start his China tour, which focuses on trade, currency, intellectual property rights and other economic issues between the two countries.

 

He held a 100-minute meeting with Vice Premier Wu Yi on Tuesday and held talks with Commerce Minister Bo Xilai earlier on the day. He will meet with other Chinese officials as well.

 

(Xinhua News Agency March 29, 2006)