TEXT: DALEY 3/28 ARRIVAL STATEMENT ON CHINA'S MARKETS
(Daley cites need for willingness to open markets)Beijing -- The United States wants broader cooperation with China and the opportunity to play a greater role in that country's economic development, according to U.S. Commerce Secretary William Daley.
"Over the course of the next several years, China plans to significantly expand and develop its infrastructure in areas where U.S. firms have proven know-how and expertise to make a significant and positive contribution," Daley said in a March 28 arrival statement.
However, he added, there must be willingness by the Chinese to open their markets to American goods and services if U.S. companies are to assist China.
"Clearly," Daley noted, "increased U.S. exports to China can not happen without a willingness on the part of China to open its market to U.S. products."
Daley promised to press Chinese officials "to encourage greater market openness as China intensifies it economic reforms."
"I am here to seek broader, long-term involvement of U.S. firms in China's infrastructure and economic development," he said. "I want to ensure that U.S. industries ... play a much greater role in this growing market."
Following is the text of Daley's remarks from the Department of Commerce:
(begin text)
ARRIVAL STATEMENT OF
U.S. SECRETARY OF COMMERCE WILLIAM M. DALEY
BEIJING, CHINA
March 28, 1999Beijing is my first stop of a major business development mission that will continue on to Shanghai and Guangzhou, China. This visit, my third as Secretary of Commerce, follows a series of recent visits, by several U.S. officials, all which, in one manner or another, set the stage for Premier Zhu's visit next month to the United States, the first by a Chinese Premier in over a decade.
The Presidential Mission I am leading here in China was born out of President Clinton and President Jiang's historic Summit in June of last year. Composed of senior corporate and government officials responsible for infrastructure development, the mission is the first of its kind ever sponsored by the Commerce Department.
This mission is a critical part of our multi-dimensional relationship with China. Senior level exchanges such as the visits that have transpired over the past several months and my visit here today, enable us to enhance engagement in the pursuit of broader cooperation and a more constructive dialogue on our differences with China. During this mission, I hope to accomplish several key objectives. First, I am here to seek broader, long-term involvement of U.S. firms in China's infrastructure and economic development. Over the course of the next several years, China plans to significantly expand and develop its infrastructure in areas where U.S. firms have proven know-how and expertise to make a significant and positive contribution. Second, I want to ensure that U.S. industries such as those represented on this mission including environmental technologies, information technologies, housing, power generation, aviation, and airport infrastructure, insurance, and entertainment play a much greater role in this growing market. Moreover, encouraging greater participation by U.S. firms in these opportunities places much needed emphasis on the export side of our trading relationship with China and helps U.S. companies and workers by boosting exports to this critical market.
Clearly, increased U.S. exports to China can not happen without a willingness on the part of China to open its market to U.S. products. I will, therefore, use my meetings with Chinese officials to press them to encourage greater market openness as China intensifies it economic reforms.
I am happy to be here, and I look forward to the opportunities this visit will provide to strengthen and enhance the ties between our two countries.
(end text)
Return to The United States and China.Return to IIP Home Page.