Vice President Bush visits China - George Bush - transcript

US Department of State Bulletin, Dec, 1985

Vice President Bush Visits China

Vice President Bush visited Beijing (October 13-16, 1985), Chengdu (October 16), Guilin (October 16-17), Guangzhou (October 17-18), and Shenzhen (October 18).

[Our economic] ties are central to the evolving Chinese-American relationship. Look how they have grown.

In 1972 our two-way trade came to less than $100 million. This year it will exceed $7 billion. In 1972 the United States had almost no investments in China. Today America is the largest foreign country investor. Americans have committed $150 million to more than 60 joint equity ventures and another $550 million in off-shore oil exploration. . . . Some of America's most extensive involvement is in areas that China has identified as those most in need of development--energy, transportation, telecommunications, and management.

Sichuan University Chengdu, China October 16, 1985

Photo: With Li Xiannian, President, People's Republic of China

Photo: With Hu Yaobang, General Secretary, Chinese Communist Party Central Committee

Photo: With Deng Xiaoping, Chairman, Central Advisory Commission and Central Military Commission

Photo: With Peng Zhen, Chairman, National's People's Congress Standing Committee

Photo: With Premier Zhao Ziyang, Premier, State Council

Photo: With Wan Li Vice Premier, State Council

Photo: Vice President Bush officiates at the ceremony on October 16 in Chengdu opening the fourth U.S. Consulate in China.

Photo: The Vice President visits the Beijing Jeep Corp. (above) and the Shenzhen Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. Plant (below)--two of many joint equity U.S.-China ventures.