US Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta said Friday that the United States is looking forward to working with China to build a safe, efficient and economical transportation system between the two countries.

The United States and China have the two largest domestic aviation markets and freight rail systems in the world, said Mineta. He said that the US has no more important bilateral transportation partner in the world than China.

He added that in addition to all the direct benefits for industry, the interaction between the two peoples has become more common than that was 20 years ago.

Mineta revealed that during his China visit he would sign relevant agreements in fields of aviation and railway transportation, which would result in "more than doubling the number of airlines" that operate services between the two countries.

According to Mineta, he would also sign an agreement with Chinese Ministry of Railway that would provide the basis for information and technology sharing in the area of rail transport.

Cooperation of this magnitude binds major trading partners like the United States and China close together, Mineta said. He noted that China deserves much credit for its foresight and a willingness to open its international aviation market extensively and for its substantial reforms that it has undertaken in the domestic aviation system.

(Xinhua News Agency July 24, 2004)