Gary Locke, the former Chinese-American governor of Washington
State, has said that the US-Chinese relationship is stronger and
better than ever before and "is very beneficial for each
other."
Locke, who chairs the planning committee for Chinese President
Hu Jintao's forthcoming visit to Seattle, said in a recent
interview with Xinhua News Agency that the US and China have
enjoyed a long history of cooperation.
The former governor, currently a partner of the Seattle-based
international law firm Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, said: "The US and
China have worked together closely for more than 60 years. The two
countries supported each other during World War II. The US was
helping China fight the Japanese imperialism even before WWII."
The US and China are now working very hard to make the Korean
Peninsula free from nuclear weapons, and China supports the US in
fighting terrorism, he said.
"Yes, there are some problems right now. But any organizations,
companies, as they get larger and larger, get sophisticated, will
all have problems. Microsoft has problems. Big organizations, as
they get mature and strong, will all have some problems," Locke
said.
"But even there are some disputes with China, and the
relationship (between the two countries) is much better than 10
years ago, much better than 30 years ago and much better than 50
years ago," he stressed.
"So I see the relationship is very strong and very beneficial
for each other," he added.
"We are very honored to have the privilege to host President Hu
in his first visit to the US as president, and we are honored he
will first stop in Seattle on his way to meet with President George
W. Bush in Washington D.C.," the former governor said.
He expressed his hope that President Hu's stay in Seattle "will
set the stage for the auspicious beginning for his trip" and that
"discussions with President Bush (in Washington D.C.) will be very
successful to improve bilateral relations and make the partnership
between the two countries even stronger."
Locke said the Chinese president will visit Boeing and
Microsoft, two US companies with a major business presence in
China, during his two-day stay in Seattle.
He said President Hu's visit will definitely further expand the
economic relations between Washington State and China, which is
currently the state's No.3 trade partner, after Canada and
Japan.
"We buy so many products from China. So many things Americans
use in their every day life are produced in China, from electronic
goods to plastics, clothes, toys and furniture. At the same time,
Washington State produces many items and provides many services
that are badly needed by Chinese people to improve their society,"
he said.
Locke also said Washington State and China have a great
potential to cooperate in economy and trade.?
(Xinhua News Agency April 18, 2006)