CHINA / Ministry Press Conference
Foreign minister: China exports helping US
(Agencies/chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2006-03-08 07:14
China's exports to the US is beneficial to the United States, Chinese
Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said Tuesday.
Trade with China has helped create between 4 million and 8 million jobs
in the U.S., Li told reporters in an annual news conference on the
sidelines of China's parliamentary session.
Inexpensive products made in China benefit U.S. consumers, and help keep
inflation in check, he added.
Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing holds a press conference in the Great Hall
of the People on the sidelines of the ongoing session of the National
People's Congress in Beijing March 7, 2006. [Xinhua]
"Perhaps you know that many of the man-made Christmas trees used by
American families are made in China. This helps conserve the U.S.
environment," Li quipped.
China's trade surplus with the US surged to an allegedly record high
US$201.6 billion last year, increasing pressure on the Bush
administration from lawmakers who want to see a crackdown on what they
believe are unfair trading practices by China.
China put the surplus figure at US$114.2 billion and contended that a
large part of the exports came from multinational corporations operating
in China.
Li pledged to cut the bilateral trade surplus, while urging the US to do
their part in this regard.
"China is by no means pursuing a trade surplus," Li said. "We are very
willing to do what we can to address this problem of the trade imbalance."
A Chinese worker walks past containers in Longwu Port in Shanghai
February 13, 2006. [Reuters]
Li urged Washington not to risk marring ties by yielding to pressure for
sanctions.
And he reiterated Beijing's calls for the U.S. side to lift export
restrictions on high-tech products, saying those limits were a key reason
behind the continued trade imbalance.
"The reasons for the trade surplus are very complex," Li said, noting
that China's purchases of Boeing Co. aircraft, soybeans and cotton have
helped make the country America's biggest export market for many products.
"It seems they only want to sell soybeans, cotton, wine from California
and citrus from Florida," Li said. "Apart from those items it seems they
would not like to sell to China because they will call those products
'high tech,' or 'dual use.'"
Li said the distinction between "civilian" and "military" use items was
lost on him. Holding up a cup of tea, he said that if he drank it, it
would be considered civilian.
"But if a soldier drinks this tea it would become for military use," he
said.
"What we should do is refrain from politicizing all these issues," Li
said.
Related Full Coverages
NPC session ends, Premier meets journalists
Premier Wen Jiabao answers questions from foreign and domestic
journalists after the conclusion of the annual session of the National
People's Congress in Beijing March 14, 2006. The annual meeting of the
top lawmaking body closed at the Great Hall of the People. [Xinhua]
UNSC members meet for Iran nuke issue
Most Commented/Read Stories in 48 Hours
� Bird flu control long-term task: Vice Premier
� Top legislature mulls abolishing agricultural tax regulation
� Hebei court hears deadly land dispute case
� Top legislature mulls abolishing agricultural tax regulation
� Top legislature mulls abolishing agricultural tax regulation
Today's Top News
� Putin to talk oil pipeline extension in Beijing
� 'Look at military spending objectively'
� US says no to 'Taiwan independence'
� Environment protection major issue
� US senators to visit China to talk trade issues
Top China News
� Don't politilize illegal immigration issue: FM
� China supports UN human rights body
� 'Be objective on military spending'
� Order Flooring swindles customers - report
� China to press on with reforms: Premier Wen
Chinese School
No comments:
Post a Comment