Ｄｅｌｅｇａｔｉｏｎ ｏｆ ＵＳ Ｎａｔｉｏｎａｌ Ｃｏｎｆｅｒｅｎｃｅ ｏｆ Ｓｔａｔｅ Ｌｅｇｉｓｌａｔｕｒｅｓ ｉｎ Ｃｈｉｎａ

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Invited by the CPAFFC, a 10-member delegation of the US National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) led by Donna Stone, chairperson of the NCSL, paid a visit to Beijing, Hunan and Shanghai from May 26 to June 4, 2008. In Beijing, Li Zhaoxing, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People Congress (NPC), Ma Xiuhong, vice minister of commerce, Li Xiaolin, CPAFFC vice president, and Liu Jieyi, assistant foreign minister, met with the delegation.

Strengthening exchanges between legislative bodies of the two countries to promote the development of bilateral relations. In meeting with the delegation, Li Zhaoxing, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the NPC, reviewed the development of China-US relations in the past 30 years, and said, China and the United States, both permanent members of the UN Security Council, should work hand in hand, shoulder more responsibilities and make unremitting efforts to maintain regional stability and world peace. The legislative bodies of the two countries can play more active roles in promoting bilateral cooperation in international affairs.

In his meeting with the delegation, Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Jieyi stressed, the Chinese Government attaches great importance to promoting exchanges with the United States in economy, culture, education, sports and other fields. Though the political systems of the two countries are different, there is a very broad prospect for cooperation. Liu hoped that the US legislatures as an important force in promoting China-US relations would continue to strengthen its contacts with the Chinese NPC and further enhance mutual understanding and trust to ensure a steady and healthy development of bilateral relations.

In their meetings with the delegation, Liu Lianyu, vice chairperson of the Standing Committee of the Hunan Provincial Peoples Congress; Yi Lizhen, vice chairperson of the Standing Committee of the Yueyang Municipal Peoples Congress; Yao Mingbao, secretary general of the Standing Committee of the Shanghai Municipal Peoples Congress, and Peng Xulan, vice chairperson of the Standing Committee of the Shanghai Pudong New Area Peoples Congress, respectively briefed about the Peoples Congress and the social and economic development of their places since the reform and opening up.

Donna Stone said, she and most of the members of the delegation visited China for the first time. They were very glad to see for themselves Chinas rapid development. The visit has given them a better understanding about Chinas legislative system, setup of administrative bodies and social and economic development. She said, US-China relations have never been as important as they are now.US-China relationship will be the most important bilateral one in the world in the coming 20 to 30 years. The NCSL and the CPAFFC have kept in contact for more than ten years and had good cooperation. She welcomed more Chinese delegations to visit theUnited States to expand and deepen bilateral exchanges and continuously push forward US-China relations.

Respecting each others concerns and promoting economic and trade cooperation.At her meeting with the delegation, Vice Minister of Commerce Ma Xiu- hong briefed about the current situation of China-US trade, and the economic and trade exchanges and the prospects of cooperation between China and the delegation members states of the U.S. As to the China-US trade deficit that the US legislators are concerned about, Ma expressed her understanding of the U.S. sides concerns. She said, in recent years China has actively taken measures to gradually increase its import from the U. S. and encourage Chinese-funded enterprises to make investigation and investment in the U.S. She also pointed out, as Chinese enterprises lack experience in making investments in foreign countries and know little about the legislation of different states of the U.S., they meet many difficulties and challenges. She hoped that the NCSL and legislators of various states would give them more support in future and make contributions to developing mutually beneficial China-US economic and trade relations.

About the imbalance of China-US trade, Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Jieyi said, the harsh conditions set by the US Government for exporting high-tech products to China have resulted in the tiny proportion of such products in the total US export to China. This is one of the main causes of the imbalance. He hoped that the US legislatures at various levels would make efforts to solve the problem impeding the development of China-US economic and trade relations and create better conditions for their development.

After visiting the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Zone, the Pudong New Area, China Sany Group, the US Varian Medical Systems Inc. and the GE China Research and Development Centre, the delegates expressed their great admiration for the high efficiency and achievements of Chinas economic development. They said, after returning home they would actively carry out economic and trade cooperation with China according to the conditions of their states and provide convenience for more Chinese enterprises to invest in the United States.

Paying attention to peoples livelihood and making joint efforts to create a harmonious world.Through the visit, the delegation had a better understanding about the course of Chinas growth as well as the Chinese Governments governance concept of putting priority on building a harmonious society where peoples livelihood is put first.

During their stay in Beijing, the delegation visited the Exhibition “Tibet, the Past and the Present”. A great number of photos, cultural relics, films and videos enabled the delegates to have a perceptive understanding of the tremendous changes in Tibet. They expressed appreciation of the enormous efforts made by the Chinese Government in the construction of Tibet.

Through their visit to the Former Residence and the Memorial Hall of Chairman Mao Zedong in Shaoshan, the delegates felt the difficulties and hardships China had undergone in its revolution and liberation. In the Xianjia New Residential Quarters in Changsha, the delegation visited the homes of ordinary people and had a cordial chat with them about their life, work and Chinas social welfare system. They were deeply impressed by Chinas efforts to build a harmonious society.

Academician Yuan Longping known as “father of hybrid rice” had a cordial talk with the delegation at the Hunan Hybrid Rice Research Centre. The achievements China had made in the research of hybrid rice seemed very fresh and new to the delegates. They said that the research on hybrid rice carried out by China is of great importance to uphold grain security in the world and a great undertaking benefiting humanity.

During their stay in China, the delegation showed great concern to Sichuan earthquake and spoke highly of the strong measures taken by the Chinese government. Donna Stone, on behalf of the NCSL and the American people, expressed her heartfelt condolence to the victims of the earthquake and said that the NCSL had donated money to the China Red Cross via the Chinese ambassador to the United States. She recalled with deep feelings the selfless aid given by the Chinese people in the wake of the Hurricane Katrina. She said, the American people as friends of the Chinese people will stand firmly side by side with the Chinese people to tide over difficulties and make contributions to building a harmonious world.