Locke: US-China ties stronger than ever before (Xinhua) Updated: 2006-04-18 13:40
SEATTLE, the United States -- Gary Locke, the former Chinese-American
governor of Washington state, has said that the U.S.-Chinese relationship is
stronger and better than ever before and "is very beneficial for each other."
Locke, who chairs the planning committee for Chinese President Hu
Jintao's forthcoming visit to Seattle, said in a recent interview with Xinhua
that the United States and China have enjoyed a long history of cooperation.
The former governor, currently a partner of the Seattle-based
international law firm Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, said: "the United States and
China have worked together closely for more than 60 years. The two countries
supported each other during World War II. The United States was helping China
fight the Japanese imperialism even before World War II."
The United
States and China are now working very hard to make the Korean Peninsula free
from nuclear weapons, and China supports the United States in fighting
terrorism, he said.
"Yes, there are some problems right now. But any
organizations, companies, as they get larger and larger, get sophisticated, will
all have problems. Microsoft have problems. Big organizations, as they get
mature and strong, will all have some problems," Locke said.
"But even
there are some disputes with China, and the relationship (between the two
countries) is much better than 10 years ago, much better than 30 years ago and
much better than 50 years ago," he stressed.
"So I see the relationship
is very strong and very beneficial for each other," he added.
"We are
very honored to have the privilege to host President Hu in his first visit to
the United State as president, and we are honored he will first stop in Seattle
on his way to meet with President (George W.) Bush in Washington D.C.," the
former governor said.
He expressed his hope that President Hu's stay in
Seattle "will set the stage for the auspicious beginning for his trip and that
meeting in Washington D.C. and that "discussions with President Bush will be
very successful to improve bilateral U.S.-China relations and make the
partnership between the two countries even stronger."
Locke said the
Chinese president will visit Boeing and Microsoft, two U.S. companies with a
major business presence in China, during his two-day stay in Seattle.
He
said President Hu's visit will definitely further expand the economic relations
between Washington state and China, which is currently the state's No. 3 trade
partner, after Canada and Japan.
"We buy so many products from China. So
many things that Americans use in their every day life are produced in China,
from electronic goods to plastics, clothes, toys and furniture. At the same
time, the Washington state produces many items and provides many services that
are badly needed by Chinese people to improve their society," he said.
Locke also said Washington state and China have a great potential to
cooperate in economy and trade.
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