U.S. Corporate Citizenship in the Spotlight in China
Commerce Secretary, business leaders strengthen economic ties

Secretary Evans tours Shanghai Children's Medical Center

SHANGHAI - Good corporate citizenship being practiced by U.S. companies doing business in China was in the spotlight today during a visit here by U.S. Commerce Secretary Don Evans and 15 American firms participating in a U.S. business development mission.

"American business is bringing with it to China not only expanded economic opportunity and world-class products and services, but also the true American spirit of volunteerism and giving," Evans said. He and leaders from Johnson & Johnson, Baxter Healthcare and Motorola toured Shanghai Children's Medical Center, where critically ill children receive state-of-the-art care, thanks to a joint initiative of the community of Shanghai and Project HOPE. Project HOPE's President and CEO, Dr. John Howe, joined the visiting delegation. Johnson & Johnson, Baxter Healthcare and Motorola are among dozens of U.S. companies that provide major support to Project HOPE in China.

The U.S. business delegation also met today with Shanghai Mayor Chen Liangyu and other top officials in China's financial and trade center. During the meeting, the U.S. company leaders had the opportunity to outline the products and services they offer and express their interest in developing new business partnerships in Shanghai and throughout China.

The U.S. and Shanghai leaders discussed China's reform efforts, as it moves on the path toward a market economy, and emphasized that commercial opportunities are increasing rapidly. Evans reaffirmed the U.S.' commitment to helping China with technical support as it complies with its new responsibilities in the WTO.

Secretary Evans participates in town hall meeting at Jiaotong University.

The U.S. business development mission participants also attended a town hall-style meeting with students of business at Shanghai's Jiaotong University. Evans, who headed a major oil and gas company prior to joining the Bush Administration, shared with the students the key lessons he learned starting out in business 28 years ago. He then answered students' questions, which covered topics ranging from WTO implementation to the impact of energy prices on the economy.

Today was the final day of the U.S. business development mission to China, the first such mission since China joined the WTO. Before coming to Shanghai, mission participants spent four days in Beijing, where they met with President Jiang Zemin and other top Chinese officials, Chinese and American business leaders doing business in China, and prospective new business partners.