Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping spoke broadly about the future of China-US trade relations before an audience of prominent American corporate and political leaders on Wednesday, February 15
th in what was seen as the major address of his tour of Washington. Xi likened the relationship between China and the U.S. to an “unstoppable river that keeps surging ahead” whose course cannot be reversed. The Vice President had met with the U.S. President, Vice President and Secretary of State earlier during his trip and expressed that he felt the talks had been productive; however, he hopes that there will be even greater cooperation between the two countries in the future.
The speech was made at a luncheon held in the Vice President’s honor, hosted by the National Committee on US-China Relations and the US-China Business Council at the Marriott Wardman Park in Washington. The event served as an introduction to China’s likely future leader for the public, and in particular the American business community.
The China General Chamber of Commerce was one of the in-cooperation organizations who assisted in organizing and executing the event and President Yuan Ning not only had a seat at the head table, but was also able to meet Vice President Xi at the VIP reception preceding the luncheon. In addition to President Yuan and the CGCC Secretariat, representatives of several CGCC member companies were also in attendance including China Merchants Bank, International Chinese Network, Jimei International Corporation, Lintex, Minmetals USA, and Wanxiang.