The 2nd US-China CEO and Former Senior Officials’ Dialogue

From November 15^th to 16^th, the 2nd US-China CEO and Former Senior Officials’ Dialogue was co-hosted by the China Center for International Economic Exchanges (CCIEE) and the US Chamber of Commerce in Washington. Delegates on each side participated in the Dialogue, and had candid and in-depth exchange of views on the state of global economy, China-US economic and business relations. Zeng Peiyan, CCIEE Chairman and former Chinese Vice Premier, and Thomas Donohue, President and CEO of the US Chamber of Commerce delivered opening remarks respectively. 

The remarks of Chinese delegates at the Dialogue can be summarized into four aspects.

Firstly, peach and development are common aspiration of all people around the world. Moreover, the development of economic globalization is an irreversible trend. Given that the US and China face some common global challenges and issues, the US and China need  more than ever to establish a new US-China relation which not only benefits the two nations, but also the world as a whole. Such relation will fully reflect the values of mutual-trust, tolerance, justice and cooperation. The views and practices featured with the cold war mentality will eventually be abandoned by history.

Secondly, in order to the create a better environment for foreign investors, China will further improve the quality and effectiveness of foreign investments, continue to enhance policy transparency and predictability, strengthen the protection of intellectual property, and treat domestic and foreign companies equally in the aspect of endogenous innovation policy.   

Thirdly, serious attention is needed for some issues associated with the US-China relations. For instance, the pressure on RMB appreciation, the increasing trade protectionism against China, the restrictions on China’s SOEs investments in the US, and the control on exporting high-tech to China, all these issues will have direct impact on the development of US-China economic and trade relations. 

Last but not least, the US Chamber of commerce has made great contribution to maintain good US-China economic and trade relations in the past. We hope it will continue to make the most of its significant influence on the US government and Congress. Meanwhile, we also hope that those rational and forward-looking US politicians, entrepreneurs and personages can look at the big picture, cherish and maintain the hard-earned US-China economic and trade relations.

Delegates on both sides agreed on that the US-China economic and trade relations are the cornerstone of the US-China relations and of the big power relations. Currently, both the US and China are undergoing economic restructuring and transformation, and they complement each other in some aspects such as the stage of economic development, resources endowment and industrial structure. The two nations face great development opportunity. Therefore, they should think outside of the box to innovate the ways of cooperation and seek for more common and long-term interests. This is not only good for the people of the two nations, but also for world economic development. 

The US-China CEO and Former Senior Officials’ Dialogue is co-hosted by CCIEE and the US Chamber of Commerce. It aims to promote mutual understanding and cooperation among US-China business leaders, and to play constructive role in the robust and stable development of US-China economic relations. The 1st round dialogue was held in mid-March of 2011.