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Issue: 919 Date: 4/3/2008
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參議員、州長、市長、郡長政商政要 訪中國大陸
成果豐碩 聖路易有望成為中國民航空運合作夥伴
Blunt-Bond-McCaskill Leading Successful Trade Mission to China
Gov. Blunt, China's Investment Promotion Agency and Trade Development Bureau Sign Agreement to Promote Missouri Trade
聯邦參議員Kit Bond, Claire McCaskill, 州長Matt Blunt率團訪中國大陸
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| 2008年3月26日，王昌順副局長應約會見了美國密蘇里州參眾議員、州長代表團，雙方就開通密蘇里州聖路易斯市與中國的直達航線事宜交換了意見，並簽署了《備忘錄》。 |
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【時報訊】由密蘇里州美國聯邦參議員共和黨Kit Bond及民主黨參議員Clarie McCaskill率領，成員包括密州州長Matt Blunt，聖路易市市長Francis Slay，聖路易郡郡長Charlie Dooley，前密州州長Bob Holden，世貿中心主任Tim Nowak，林白機場助理主任Brian Kinsey，McEagle公司總裁Paul Mckee，Peabody公司總監Cartan Sumner等政商要人共26人之訪華團，3月23日至3月28日在中國大陸訪問一周。與中國全國人大常委會委員長吳邦國，國務院副總理王歧山等中國高層領導人會面，並與中國民航局達成協議簽署備忘錄，共同研究聖路易林白機場作為大陸貨運及民航之空港港口(Hub)。這次密蘇里訪華團訪問中國大陸之行是繼今(2008年)2月19日，首次中國駐美大使周文重訪問聖路易後敲定。密蘇里州與中國大陸互訪，在經濟發展、貿易推動及航空事業之共同合作上，成果豐碩。密蘇里州聖路易與中國友好關係上，踏出歷史性一大步。
密蘇里州代表團訪問中國大陸簽定了兩項重要協議，首先是3月26日由州長Matt Blunt、聖路易市市長Francis Slay、聖路易郡郡長Charlie Dooley與中國民航局副局長王昌順簽署《中國民用航空局與美國密蘇里州、密蘇里州聖路易斯市、密蘇里州聖路易郡和聖路易斯機場當局諒解備忘錄，》雙方就開通密蘇里州聖路易斯市與中國的直達航線事宜交換意見。同時Matt Blunt州長亦與中國促進投資及代表商務部之貿易發展部門簽署協議，共同經由聖路易空港之功能推動中國與密蘇里州之經貿發展，這項協議是代表團與中國當局經過多次會議會談之成果，將使得中國與密蘇里州之友誼和合作關係更加穩固，進而推展至美中西區以至全美。
在與中國民航局簽署之備忘錄中，中國民航局與聖路易林白機場將聯合研商林白機場作為中國在密蘇里州貨運及乘客之空港，而以聖路易市、聖路易郡作為商業發展基地以拓展中美雙方經貿，這項研商工作將在六個月之內完成。
備忘錄中同時言及中國民航局相關部門及中國國際貨運航空公司(Air China Cargo)將於近期內訪問密蘇里州及聖路易市、郡林白機場，實地考察建立空港之各項議題。密蘇里州州長Matt Blunt在協議簽署後表示“為在全球經濟中保持競爭力量，我們必須積極的尋求像這樣的機會來創造就業機會，為我們的產品和經濟成長創造新市場”。
聖路易市市長Francis Slay說“聖路易市欣見這項協議之達成，創造了聖路易市和中國雙方經貿的新局面，不但能使林白機場成為貨運空港，更將成為飛航乘客之空港，成果非凡。”聖路易郡郡長Charlie Dooley亦表示，“所有代表團成員相信這是一個可喜可賀，值得慶祝的協議，讓我們和中國友人緊密結合。”
在整個訪問行程中，3月27日中國全國人大常委會委員長吳邦國在北京人民大會堂會見聯邦參議員Kit Bond、Clarie McCaskill、州長Matt Blunt及代表團成員。中國國務院副總理王歧山則在北京中南海紫光閣會見代表團。
吳邦國在會見時說，中美關係雖歷經波折，但總的趨勢是不斷向前發展的。中國全國人大與美國國會眾參兩院分別建立定期交流機制並進行了多輪富有成果的會晤，中美地方交往也不斷擴大，這為兩國關係發展注入新的活力。今年是中美關係十分重要的一年，雙方應堅持從戰略高度和長遠角度看待和把握中美關係，加強對話、交流與合作，妥善處理分歧和敏感問題，推動中美關係在保持穩定基礎上不斷取得新進展。他希望來訪的代表團成員繼續積極引導和推動美國國會、地方政府和社會各界支持中美關係發展。
王岐山在會見時表示，加強中美兩國的合作與交流，有利於世界的和平與發展。中國將堅定不移地推進改革開放，希望雙方共同努力，推動中美建設性合作關係在保持穩定的基礎上不斷取得新的發展。中方願與密蘇里州進一步發展友好關係，深化經貿等各領域的互利合作，更好地造福於中國人民和密州人民。
代表團團長、美國會參議院議員Kit Bond說，代表團成員在發展對華關係上觀點是一致的，抱有與中方加強交流、加深瞭解，擴大經貿、文化、教育等領域務實合作的強烈願望。密蘇里州願繼續走在發展美中關係的前列。
Blunt-Bond-McCaskill Leading Successful Trade Mission to ChinaGov. Blunt, China's Investment Promotion Agency and Trade Development Bureau Sign Agreement to Promote Missouri Trade聯邦參議員Kit Bond, Claire McCaskill, 州長Matt Blunt率團訪中國大陸
BEIJING - Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt today signed an agreement with the Investment Promotion Agency and the Trade Development Bureau, on behalf of the Ministry of Commerce, that could make St. Louis a new transportation hub for trade with China and increase exports between Missouri and China. The memorandum of understanding document was signed following a series of meetings with Chinese officials led by Gov. Blunt and U.S. Senators Kit Bond and Claire McCaskill. The governor and senators this week are leading a bipartisan delegation of government, business and civic leaders from the St. Louis area on a trade mission to China.
"Missouri workers are the most productive employees in the world, and I am pleased to promote our state's workforce around the globe," Gov. Blunt said. This agreement is a result of our meetings with the Vice Minister of Commerce and promises to foster a long and beneficial relationship between Missouri and China that will open new markets for Missouri-made products, generate more opportunities for Missouri workers, and showcase the countless benefits of doing business in and with our state."
"The creation of a Sino-American import-export hub in St. Louis will mean hundreds of new jobs for Missourians and just makes economic, commercial, cultural, political and strategic sense," said U.S. Sen. Kit Bond. "By improving trade between our countries, we can create jobs here at home for Missourians and a more sustainable and long-term relationship that benefits the U.S. and our strategic interests."
"This is an important milestone toward leveling the playing field for trade with China," said U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill. "I'm happy to be working in a bipartisan way to enhance the opportunity to export manufactured goods and agricultural products from Missouri, which will help our economy and create jobs here at home."
The memorandum of understanding agreement outlines ways to strengthen the relationship between China and Missouri through new initiatives in trade and economic development. Calling St. Louis "the traditional center of the United States," it says St. Louis "can serve as an important center for expanding two-way exchanges and investment between China, Missouri, and the Midwest." It also says "Lambert St. Louis International Airport can become a potential center for Chinese airfreight and passenger flights."
The memorandum of understanding also states that a delegation of the Ministry of Commerce will visit Missouri to review and assess the opportunities for expanding trade and investment promotion activities in agriculture, high-tech equipment and other manufactured goods, financial services, manufacturing, parts assembly, and real estate. It calls for continuing efforts to "foster a long-term, friendly and cooperative relationship and to develop a healthy partnership between China, Missouri, and the Midwest region of the United States."
Joining Gov. Blunt and U.S. Senators Bond and McCaskill on the trade mission and for the meetings that resulted in the signing of the memorandum of understanding include: U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan; St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay; St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley; and former Mo. Gov. Bob Holden who serves as the Vice Chairman of the Midwest U.S.-China Association and was invited by Gov. Blunt. Business leaders include Richard C. D. Fleming, president and CEO of the St. Louis Regional Chamber & Growth Association (RCGA); David L. Steward, chairman and CEO of World Wide Technology; and executives with Pfizer, Peabody Energy, Unigroup, McEagle Properties, the World Trade Center St. Louis, and Lambert St. Louis International Airport.
"This is an outstanding agreement for the whole St. Louis area," said St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay. "Our goal is to create good paying jobs in St. Louis. China's interest is in developing the St. Louis area as a major point of access for trade in the United States. We believe we have taken an important step toward the goals of both sides."
The RCGA's Fleming commented: "We have shown the Chinese that the St. Louis area's role and position in the United States -- embodied in our region's brand, "Perfectly Centered. Remarkably Connected" -- make us a natural hub as they seek to expand their trade with the U.S., especially our exports. The St. Louis area is at the center of a 20-state global market that accounts for 43 percent of the U.S. population, 40 percent of its Gross Domestic Product, and 40 percent of U.S. agriculture. This market -- equal in area to India and in production to Japan and Mexico combined -- is not well-served by the two coasts. Our geographical location and superb transportation assets make us a natural."
St. Louis County Executive Charlie A. Dooley said, "We are extremely pleased with the details of the memorandum of understanding and I know our entire Missouri delegation believes that it signals a very encouraging trend with our friends here in China."
The trip is a follow-up to the visit to St. Louis last February of Zhou Wenzhong, China's Ambassador to the United States. That visit, the first by a Chinese ambassador to St. Louis in memory, resulted from an invitation by the two Senators and was hosted by the RCGA. During his two days here, Mr. Zhou received briefings on the area's transportation assets and from executives at such companies and organizations as Monsanto, Pfizer, Bunge North America, Washington University, Webster University, the University of Missouri, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, the Danforth Plant Science Center, and others.
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