USTDA LAUNCHES ENVIRONMENTAL PARTNERSHIP AT CHINA-U.S. AVIATION SYMPOSIUM
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Reaffirms Commitment to U.S.-China Aviation Cooperation Program |
FAA Acting Assistant Administrator Reimold (seated left), USTDA Acting Director Zak (seated center) and CAAC Administrator Li (seated right) signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the China-U.S. Aviation Symposium creating the U.S.-China Airport Environmental Partnership.
BEIJING, CHINA (April 8, 2009) – At today's opening of the China-U.S. Aviation Symposium, USTDA, together with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), launched the U.S.-China Airport Environmental Partnership and reaffirmed their commitment to the successful U.S.-China Aviation Cooperation Program (ACP). The Symposium, which is taking place through April 9th at the Grand Hyatt Beijing, is promoting a high-level dialogue between the United States and China to address current and future challenges to the growth of the aviation sector, including discussions on how to mitigate environmental impacts from increased commercial aviation. Together, the Partnership and Symposium reflect USTDA's strategy of focusing on programs in China that create mutual beneficial relationships for advancing our bilateral relations and opening markets to greater trade.
"Environmental solutions and technologies are critical to sustainable growth in the aviation sector," said USTDA Acting Director Leocadia I. Zak. "Working in cooperation with our government partners and the U.S. and Chinese civil aviation industries, we are helping our aviation systems grow together in mutually beneficial ways. By sharing experiences and best practices with each other, we can achieve results that will strengthen our respective systems and shape the future of commercial aviation."
In the last two decades, China's civil aviation sector has undergone significant development and will continue on a fast-paced growth trajectory, with total air traffic volume expected to double by 2010 from 2005 levels. To meet this rising demand for aviation services, China plans to spend $30 billion on aviation infrastructure in 2009 and $17 billion on airport construction and expansion over the next five years. Under the theme "Strengthening Aviation Partnerships," the Symposium is helping to enhance the technical and commercial relationship between the U.S. and Chinese industries in response to this dramatic growth. To this end, the USTDA-sponsored Symposium involves a series of senior-level plenary workshops on airport development, air traffic control (ATC) management and safety, ATC capacity and efficiency, aviation environmental issues, airspace utilization, airport security and general aviation development.
In furthering its commitment to advance China's aviation sector growth, USTDA awarded a $1.2 million grant at the Symposium to expand the highly successful U.S.-China Aviation Cooperation Program. This fifth phase of funding will support an airport environmental best practices technical assistance program; a fourth class of the successful executive management development training program; and institute a new program on air traffic management executive training. Established in 2004, the ACP links the U.S. and Chinese governments and aviation industries in a multi-faceted program to promote technical, policy and commercial cooperation. The USTDA grant awarded today will partially fund the next phase of ACP programs with matching funds provided by the U.S. aviation industry and a significant contribution by the CAAC. The programs are designed to expose CAAC managers and future leaders to U.S. aviation practices, procedures and technologies as they work to establish a framework for managing the continued growth of China's aviation sector. It is envisioned that the expansion of the ACP through the USTDA grant will strengthen the bilateral partnership and open commercial opportunities for the export of U.S. manufactured goods and services. Acting Director Zak and CAAC Administrator Li Jiaxiang signed a grant agreement officially conferring the USTDA funds.
In addition, an MOU was signed today by Acting Director Zak, Administrator Li, and FAA Acting Assistant Administrator for International Aviation Dorothy B. Reimold establishing the U.S.-China Airport Environmental Partnership. In launching the Partnership, USTDA stated its intent to host a reverse trade mission to the United States that will familiarize delegates from the CAAC's Airport Department with U.S. best practices in sustainable airport development. The initiative is supported by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Chicago O'Hare International Airport, San Francisco International Airport, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
The U.S. Trade and Development Agency advances economic development and U.S. commercial interests in developing and middle-income countries. The agency funds various forms of technical assistance, early investment analysis, training, orientation visits and business workshops that support the development of a modern infrastructure and a fair, open trading environment. USTDA's strategic use of foreign assistance funds to support sound investment policy and decision-making in host countries creates an enabling environment for trade, investment and sustainable economic development. In carrying out its mission, USTDA gives emphasis to economic sectors that may benefit from U.S. exports of goods and services.
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Remarks of Leocadia I. Zak, Acting Director, U.S. Trade and Development Agency - China-U.S. Aviation Symposium - Beijing, China - April 8, 2009 | (Chinese Version)
Fact Sheet - U.S.-China Aviation Cooperation Program Phase V | (Chinese Version)
Fact Sheet - Airport Environmental Partnership | (Chinese Version)
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