A project aiming to promote cooperation between small and medium enterprises between China and the United States kicked off Sunday in Wuhan, capital city of central China's Hubei province.

The "Sino-US international partner network program", signed in July between China and the United States, will be promoted in 14 Chinese cities to facilitate exchanges and communication between small and medium enterprises from the two countries.

Wuhan became the first-run of the 14 cities.

The program will become a bridge between small and medium enterprises from two countries to strengthen economic and trade cooperation, and promote the development between two countries, said Craig Allen, counselor of the US embassy to China at the opening ceremony.

He said China is the third largest trade partner of the United States and its export growth brought about huge unfavorable trade balance to the US, which reached US$80.3 billion in 2004, about 13 times than in 1993 when it came forth.

The China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) signed a letter of intent with the US Department of Commerce and the US Small Business Administration last year to boost the communication between small and medium enterprises in both countries and to ease trade friction.

Vice director of CCPIT Gao Yan said, "The small and medium enterprises from both sides will further their cooperation through this program, so that the Sino-US trade will see an upgrade in various fields."

(Xinhua News Agency October 18, 2005)