President George Bush's Voices Support for U.S.-China Trade To Chinese People — Former President's Message Backs PNTR Proposal

Business Wire, May 24, 2000

Business Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 24, 2000

As the United States Congress readies for a vote that could give China Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) with the U.S. today, Chinese television will broadcast a message from former President George Bush supporting U.S. -China trade relations and encouraging a stronger relationship between the two nations. In a message sent over the Internet to the Chinese people, President Bush urged Congress to pass PNTR for China.

"I am a great believer in the US - China relationship," President Bush wrote in an email sent over MeetChina.com, China's leading business to business trade portal. "I want to see PNTR pass in the Congress. As President I had to fight hard to keep MFN for China. President Clinton and the Republican leaders in the house are doing all they can. I believe that they will win."

The online message was written during a demonstration of the MeetChina.com trade portal, which facilitates online trade between China and the global marketplace. Following the demonstration, former President Bush addressed a luncheon of business leaders to further voice his support for the China PNTR proposal, which comes up for vote Wednesday in the U.S. Congress.

"50 years ago China and the U.S. embarked on two different economic and political paths," said President Bush, "and now with the issue of WTO accession and trade normalization we have a chance to head in the same direction together and make up for the lost opportunities of the past."

President Bush further commented "It is absolutely essential in my view that (this bill) pass...I cannot stress enough the importance of the U.S-China trade relationship."

Guests at the luncheon included The Honorable Cheng Siwei, Vice Chairman Standing Committee, National People's Congress, People Republic of China, and H.E. Hongxi, Chinese Consul General.

About MeetChina.com

MeetChina.com provides a business-to-business e-commerce platform that enables businesses worldwide to source products from a large number of China-based companies using online technology. MeetChina.com is a pioneer in developing and promoting integrated business-to-business solutions for the China export market. MeetChina.com's office in the U.S. is located at 300 Montgomery Street, Suite 1160, San Francisco, Calif. 94104. Telephone 415-288-8228 or online at www.MeetChina.com