US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson discussed China-US trade
relationship with 13 leading Chinese entrepreneurs in eastern China
on Tuesday.
In Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang Province, Paulson listened to
the entrepreneurs discuss their businesses and the challenges they
face.
The entrepreneurs included Zong Qinghou, board chairman of the
Wahaha corporation, and Nan Cunhui, board chairman of the CHINT,
China's largest manufacturer of low-voltage electrical
products.
As one of the most developed regions of China, Zhejiang has a
well-developed market economy and boasts the highest proportion of
private business in the country, at more than 70 percent of its
total economic volume.
At an economic and trade fair held between Zhejiang and the US
in New York in May, companies from the two sides signed deals on 63
projects, with a total investment of US$2.49 billion.
Paulson, who arrived in Hangzhou on the first leg of his
four-day China tour on Tuesday afternoon, also met with provincial
party chief Xi Jinping in the state guest house where China and the
US held negotiations in 1972 on the establishment of diplomatic
relations. The guest house also witnessed the signing of the
Sino-US Shanghai Joint Communiqué.
This is Paulson's first visit to China since he took office in
July. He will arrive in Beijing on Wednesday and hold meetings with
senior Chinese leaders.
(Xinhua News Agency September 20, 2006)
