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US lawmakers unveil bills to foster ties with China
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-05-15 09:47

WASHINGTON -- US lawmakers from the US-China Working Group on Thursday unveiled four bills to "invest in "America's economic future" -- to foster closer relations with China on matters like trade, climate change, energy and to boost Chinese language teaching in the country.

"To strengthen our economy, enhance American competitiveness and create new, high-paying jobs in the United States, we must expand our diplomatic and economic footprint in China," said Mark Kirk, co-chairman of the 55-member congressional group.

"By deploying more Chinese-speaking diplomats and commercial officers to cities with more than five million people, we can create new opportunities for US exporters and speed up our economic recovery," Kirk said.

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One bill would help US states set up offices in China to promote their exports, help small and medium-sized businesses launch trade missions to China, and authorize Small Business Administration grants for Chinese business education programs, according to a statement issued by the office of Rick Larsen, the other co-chairman of the group.

The bill "will help give American small and medium-sized businesses the tools they need to tap into the China market and create good-paying jobs here at home," Larsen said.

Another bill would increase the number of US diplomatic missions in China and increase US contributions to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, of which both the United States and China are members.

A third bill would authorize a grant program to encourage joint American-Chinese research and development and policy education as well as improve energy efficiency or work on renewable energy sources.

A fourth aims to increase Chinese culture and language education in the United States through local programs, and link those programs to institutions in China.

According to the statement, Kirk and Larsen will visit China this month "to explore ways that American businesses can tap the rapidly-growing China market to create jobs here at home, and to identify opportunities for bilateral cooperation to address the global economic crisis."