STORY: Business communities, officials call for closer China-U.S. collaboration
SHOOTING TIME: Nov. 20, 2023
DATELINE: Nov. 23, 2023
LENGTH: 0:03:38
LOCATION: CHICAGO, U.S.
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the gala
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): XIE FENG, Chinese Ambassador to the United States
3. shot of Xie Feng presenting the award
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): JASON LEE, Senior Advisor to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson
5. shot of the gala
6. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): NI PIN, Chairman of CGCC-Chicago
7. various of the gala

STORYLINE:

Some 700 Chinese, U.S. businessmen and officials gathering in downtown Chicago Monday called for collaboration between the two countries.

China and the United States need to move in the same direction, and follow through on the important common understandings reached between the two countries' presidents and translate the commitments into concrete policies and real actions, Chinese Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng said in his keynote speech at the 7th Annual Gala of the China General Chamber of Commerce-USA Chicago (CGCC).

To embark on a new journey from San Francisco onward, the two sides need to rise to the challenges and act on the important common understandings reached in San Francisco, Xie said at the event on the theme of "Moving Forward."

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): XIE FENG, Chinese Ambassador to the United States
"The two sides need to respect each other, coexist in peace, and pursue win-win cooperation so as to turn the San Francisco vision into reality and further improve China-US relations. Earlier this month, IMF upgraded China's GDP growth forecast for this year to 5.4 percent, speaking volumes about the confidence of the international community in the Chinese economy. Right now, more than 7,000 Chinese companies are doing business in the United States. The Chinese-funded members of the CGCC alone have invested over 137 billion U.S. dollars in the United States, creating over 230,000 jobs. Many of you attended the 6th China International Import Expo a few weeks ago. Altogether over 230 American businesses participated in the event, taking up the largest exhibition area for six years in a row. China's development is a blessing for the world, and the success of China and the United States is an opportunity for each other. Sanction is never a solution, but will only create more problems. It is important to follow the will of our peoples, respect market rules and uphold free trade, and absolutely say no to any attempt to politicize economic issues on the pretext of security. It is hoped that the U.S. side will provide a fair, just and non-discriminatory environment for Chinese companies, and I count on CGCC Chicago to continue building bridges and providing solutions for its members, pull the strength of our two peoples and make the pie of win-win cooperation bigger, so as to inject more stability into China-U.S. relations and positive energy into the world."

Xie awarded the U.S.-China Friendship Envoy Award to former U.S. Ambassador to China Max Baucus at the gala for his contribution to the China-U.S. relationship.

In a congratulatory letter, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson congratulated CGCC-USA Chicago on another successful year of fostering Chinese investments in the U.S. Midwest and strengthening the bond between China and Chicago.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): JASON LEE, Senior Advisor to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson
"China has become Chicago's top trading partner with total trade reaching 102 billion dollars in 2022, making a remarkable 162-percent growth in one decade."

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): NI PIN, Chairman of CGCC-Chicago
"While Chicago is entering the winter season, the U.S.-China relationship starts to see the sign of early spring. Yes, levering the playing field for a fair competition is very logical, but the way to get there is through active engagement and the open, honest dialogue, not through decoupling."

CGCC-USA Chicago is a non-profit organization representing more than 260 Chinese-funded enterprises and partners in nine U.S. Midwest states.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Chicago, the United States.
(XHTV)