China Commerce Min: Strengthen US-China Ties

陈德铭经济联系一直是中美关系的一个重要基础，自两国建立正常外交关系以来，双边贸易一直强劲增长。如今，中国和美国都是对方的第二大贸易伙伴；双边商品贸易总额超过3,000亿美元。美国企业从中受益匪浅。过去5年中，美国对华出口额增长了一倍。美国对华服务贸易顺差以每年36%的速度增长，去年美国对华服务出口总额超过了160亿美元。美国企业已在中国57,000个项目上投资了逾600亿美元。2007年，美国在华投资的公司利润增长17%，而美国企业在本土的利润平均下滑3%。但中美两国间的商业联系受到了全球金融危机的影响。中国统计数据显示，中美双边贸易去年第四季度和今年第一季度较上年下滑6.8%，美国在华投资大幅减少19.4%。历史告诉我们：危机越是严重，我们就必须越坚持开放和合作的态度。然而遗憾的是，美国对中国的贸易限制正在升温。最近，美国许多行业都请求美国政府进行反倾销调查，按照世界贸易组织(WTO)的“特别保障条款”启动调查，这些调查可能限制进口中国产品。这将严重考验中美两国的经贸关系。虽然存在这些挑战，但现在促进中美关系积极发展的必要性前所未有地强烈。我们需要认识到两国社会制度和经济发展的现有差异，并不断加强相互理解和信任。两国都应当加强贸易和投资方面的合作，并为农业高新科技金融能源和环境等方面的合作探寻和建立新的可能性。在多边及地区性经贸事务上也需要加强对话和交流。对此，我想提出以下四点建议：－首先，抓住合作的机会，共同应对危机。当前，两国政府都推出了规模庞大的经济刺激计划，而人们也预期这些计划将成为两国贸易和投资合作新的增长领域。举例来说，中国在基础设施机械设备以及环保方面存在巨大的需求。人们希望两国能将这些机会转变成实实在在的成果。－第二，互相开放市场，扩大贸易和投资。中国政府并不追求对美贸易顺差。我们会继续鼓励中国公司加大从美国进口，同时也欢迎美国公司和贸易促进机构更加积极地在中国开展业务。外商直接投资是中国对外开放政策的基本要素，因此我们欢迎想扩大在华投资的美国公司。同时，我们也鼓励有能力的中国公司在美国投资。我们希望美国政府也能欢迎中国的投资，并营建一个开放透明的投资环境。－第三，加强双边对话，合理解决分歧。作为拥有广泛紧密联系的贸易伙伴，中美两国不应该让在某些问题上的分歧影响双方在存在共同利益领域的合作。我们需要利用美中战略经济对话(U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue)和美中商贸联合委员会(US-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade)来增强战略互信，扩大对话和合作，并建立稳定的高层次制度，促进双边贸易和投资。－第四，保护贸易环境，推进多哈回合贸易谈判(Doha Round)。作为全球第一和第三贸易大国，美中两国应当带头将伦敦20国集团(G-20)峰会达成的共识付诸行动，并在2010年底前避免出台任何新的贸易保护政策。我们还应当小心行事，避免任意使用世界贸易组织所允许的贸易救济措施，并信守反对贸易保护主义的承诺。两国还应当联手推进多哈回合贸易谈判，严格遵守多哈发展议程(Doha Development Agenda)的要求，恪守过去的谈判中已经达成一致的内容，避免重新谈判或添加新条款，并力争让这轮谈判取得成功。积极合作全面的中美关系一定能够给两国经济带来新的繁荣发展。我希望并深信，中美双边贸易如能以更为平衡的方式发展，将在未来五年内创下新高，超过5,000亿美元。（编者按：本文作者陈德铭为中国商务部部长。）相关阅读美国前官员：参与上海世博会关乎美中贸易 2009-04-24美国前国防部长：世界需要美中合作 2009-04-24中国是友是敌（下） 2009-04-22中国是友是敌（上） 2009-04-21促进合作 摒弃保护主义 2009-03-25


Chen DemingEconomic links have always been an important basis for the China-U.S. relationship, and the growth in trade between the two countries has been robust since the establishment of normal diplomatic relations. Today, China and the U.S. are each other's second-largest trading partner; the value of the two-way trade in goods exceeds $300 billion.U.S. businesses have benefited greatly. In the past five years, American exports to China have doubled. The U.S. trade surplus with China in services has grown 36% every year, and the overall value of U.S. export services to China exceeded $16 billion last year. U.S. businesses have invested more than $60 billion in 57,000 projects in China. In 2007, American-funded companies in China enjoyed a 17% increase of profit, while domestically the profit of U.S. businesses dropped by 3% on average.But the commercial ties between our two nations are affected by the global financial crisis. Chinese statistics show bilateral trade dropped 6.8%, and U.S. investment in China slumped 19.4%, on a year-on-year basis in the fourth quarter of last year and the first quarter of this year.History tells us that the more serious a crisis becomes, the more committed we must be to openness and cooperation. Regrettably, however, trade measures by the U.S. against China are on the rise. Recently, American industries have petitioned the U.S. government for antidumping investigations, and for investigations under the World Trade Organization's 'special safeguard provision,' which could restrict imports of Chinese products. This will seriously test China-U.S. economic and trade relations.Despite these challenges, the need to foster positive Sino-American ties has never been greater. We need to recognize the existing differences between us in social systems and economic development, and constantly enhance mutual understanding and trust. Both countries should step up cooperation on trade and investment issues, and explore and establish new possibilities for cooperation in such areas as agriculture, new and high technology, finance, energy and the environment. Dialogue and communication also need to be intensified concerning multilateral and regional trade and economic affairs. To that end, I would like to put forth four proposals:-- First, seize the opportunity for cooperation, and work together to tackle the crisis. At present, both governments have rolled out economic stimulus packages on a massive scale, which in turn are expected to become new growth areas for our trade and investment cooperation. For example, China's demand for infrastructure, machinery and equipment, and environmental protection is huge. It is hoped that both countries would turn these opportunities into tangible outcomes.-- Second, mutually open markets to expand trade and investment. The Chinese government does not pursue a trade surplus with the U.S. We will continue to encourage Chinese companies to import more from the U.S., and we will also welcome U.S. companies and trade-promotion agencies to be more active in China.Since foreign direct investment is a basic element of China's opening-up policy, we welcome American companies that want to increase their investment in China. Meanwhile, we also encourage capable Chinese companies to invest in the U.S. We hope that the U.S. government will welcome Chinese investments and create an open and transparent investment environment.-- Third, strengthen bilateral dialogue and resolve differences properly. As trading partners with broad and close ties, both countries should not allow differences on some issues to affect their cooperation in areas of common interests. We need to use the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue and the U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade to boost strategic mutual trust, expand dialogue and cooperation, and establish a high-level and stable regime of bilateral trade and investment facilitation.-- Fourth, safeguard the environment for trade and advance the Doha Round. The U.S. and China, as the largest and the third-largest trading countries in the world, respectively, should take the lead in following up the consensus reached at the G-20 Summit in London and refrain from formulating any new trade protection policies before the end of 2010. We should also exercise caution, avoid arbitrary use of the trade remedies allowed by the World Trade Organization, and honor our commitment to fight protectionism. The two countries should also work together to advance the Doha Round, strictly follow the mandates of the Doha Development Agenda, lock in what has already been agreed to in past negotiations, avoid reopening negotiations or adding new subjects, and seek the success of this round.A positive, cooperative and comprehensive Sino-American relationship will surely bring new prosperity and development to both economies. I hope and believe that bilateral trade will rise to a new high and exceed $500 billion in the coming five years, growing in a more balanced way.(Editor's Note: Mr. Chen is minister of commerce for the People's Republic of China.)