Hu: business co-op pillar for Sino-US ties   (Xinhua)  Updated: 2006-04-20 09:49  Visiting Chinese President Hu 
Jintao said on Wednesday that business cooperation has proved to be a pillar for 
the growth of Sino-US relations, vowing to promote bilateral business ties. 
"Strong business ties meet the fundamental interests of our two countries and 
peoples and will continue to play an important role in boosting and stabilizing 
our relations," Hu said at a luncheon hosted by the Washington State, the 
Seattle business community and friendly local organizations. 
 He also expressed his hope to work together with the US side to enhance 
mutual trust, deepen cooperation and promote the growth of the constructive and 
cooperative China-U.S. relations in all fields. 
 In 2005, bilateral trade volume between the two countries jumped to 211.6 
billion U.S. dollars, an increase of more than 80 times over that in 1979 when 
China and the United States established diplomatic relations. 
 "The fast growing bilateral business ties have delivered great benefits to 
our peoples," Hu said in the speech with the theme of "Deepen Mutually 
Beneficial Cooperation to Promote Common Development." 
 He said that by doing business with China, U.S. companies have made good 
profits, enhanced their global competitiveness and strengthened their positions 
in the US market. 
 At the same time, Hu also pointed out that it is "hardly avoidable" that some 
problems have occurred, given the rapid growth, sheer size and wide scope of 
business ties between the two sides. 
 "We should properly address these problems through consultation and dialogue 
on an equal footing as we work to expand our business ties," Hu said. 
 He stressed that mutually beneficial cooperation and common development 
remain "the defining feature of our business relations." 
 Hu arrived here on Tuesday for his first state visit to the United States, 
with Seattle being the first stop of his four-day stay in the country which ends 
on Friday. 
 The United States is the first leg of his five-nation tour, which will also 
take him to Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Nigeria and Kenya.  
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