29 March 1999
CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO VISIT CHINA
(Delegation to discuss trade, economy, foreign policy) (270) Washington -- U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman William Roth is leading a Congressional delegation to China the week of March 29-April 2 that will meet with Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji to discuss trade issues, economic development, and foreign policy issues. Roth said March 29 he will stress to the Chinese the "importance of agreeing to the strongest possible package of trade-liberalizing measures. That is important not only from the perspective of our American exporters trying to gain access to China's markets, but to China's efforts at economic reform as well." Currently, U.S. Commerce Secretary William Daley is leading a delegation of 18 U.S. companies on a trade mission to Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, March 28-April 1. The mission is the first ever to draw on the expertise of multiple U.S. cabinet agencies in sectors targeted to help China's infrastructure. Daley will also be the final U.S. cabinet member to visit China prior to Premier Zhu Rongji's visit to the United States in early April. Roth, a Republican senator from Delaware, also said he plans to discuss human rights, economic development and the recent allegations surrounding stolen U.S. missile technology. "There is no doubt that the news of recent weeks has raised serious concerns about the nature and strength of that relationship," Roth said. "I want to underscore the importance of China's addressing our concerns, rebuilding confidence among the American people in the direction of China's foreign policy, and restoring a positive direction to our relationship."
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