The FINANCIAL — U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Thomas J. Donohue, joined by a delegation of leading U.S. CEOs, former cabinet officials, and think tank experts, met with Chinese President Xi Jinping this afternoon in advance of the opening of the seventh meeting of the U.S.-China CEO and Former Senior Officials’ Dialogue. Donohue and China Center for International Economic Exchanges (CCIEE) Chairman and Former Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan are co-chairing the seventh Dialogue meeting, leading discussions on the most important economic and commercial policy issues in U.S.-China relations.
“Working together with Chairman Zeng, we’ve made great strides in the Dialogue in increasing mutual understanding, candidly working through challenges, and strengthening our ties between our business communities,” said Donohue. “Expanding the U.S.-China commercial relationship is essential to driving needed growth in our economies and stability in the global economy. The CEO Dialogue is making a difference by highlighting opportunities, airing concerns constructively, and making joint recommendations to our governments for progress.”
CEOs of leading companies on both sides are convening over two days to discuss the important issues of two-way investment and BIT negotiations, innovation, China’s G-20 year, and trends in global trade, finance and energy. The Dialogue is taking place as U.S. companies voice growing concerns regarding a number of Chinese measures–long-standing market access restrictions in services and other areas, broad application of national security measures that restrict legitimate commerce, biotechnology approval delays, rule of law and transparency inadequacies, and cyber theft of commercial secrets–that are making the environment more challenging for U.S. companies doing business with China, according to U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
“President Xi’s visit provides a timely opportunity to forge deeper commercial engagement that benefits the workers and businesses of both countries, and this can and should happen even as we work through our challenges,” stated Donohue. “We urge the two governments to reinforce the economic and commercial relationship, including by concluding a high-standard, comprehensive BIT as soon as possible. The BIT remains the most substantial opportunity in the relationship to strengthen growth in both countries, and lead us forward on a path to deeper integration and stronger overall ties.”
Discussion about this post