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US lawmakers push closer ties with China
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-05-15 09:44

WASHINGTON – Members of the US House of Representatives unveiled a sweeping agenda Thursday to foster closer relations with China on matters like trade, climate change, energy and to boost US teaching of Chinese.

US lawmakers push closer ties with China

Lawmakers from the US-China Working Group introduced four bills aimed fostering closer relations with China.[Agencies] US lawmakers push closer ties with China

Lawmakers from the US-China Working Group introduced four bills aimed at helping US firms operate in China, boost bilateral energy cooperation, add US diplomatic missions in China, and bolster cultural and language exchanges.

The goal is "to expand America's influence in China and increase American competitiveness in the global marketplace," said Republican Representative Mark Kirk, co-chairman of the 55-member congressional group.

One piece of legislation would help US states set up offices in China to promote their exports, help small businesses launch trade missions to China, and authorize government help for Chinese business education programs.

The bill "will help give American small and medium-sized businesses the tools they need to tap into the China market and create good-paying jobs here at home," said Democratic Representative Rick Larsen, the other co-chairman.

Another proposal would increase the number of US diplomatic missions in China and increase US contributions to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, of which both the United States and China are key members.

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"By deploying more Chinese-speaking diplomats and commercial officers to cities with more than five million people, we can create new opportunities for US exporters and speed up our economic recovery," said Kirk.

A third bill would fund joint energy and climate change education programs as well as joint research and development of so-called "carbon capture" programs to fight climate change, as well as improve energy efficiency or work on renewable energy sources.

A fourth aims to increase Chinese culture and language education in the United States through local programs, and link those programs to institutions in China.

Larsen's office said in a statement that he and Kirk were due in China later this month "to explore ways that American businesses can tap the rapidly-growing China market to create jobs here at home, and to identify opportunities for bilateral cooperation to address the global economic crisis."