Max Sieben Baucus, the United States Ambassador to China and Charles Bennett, Consul General of the US Consulate General in Guangzhou visited Xiamen, Fujian province, on Jan 25 and 26.
Zheng Yunfeng, a member of CPC Xiamen Standing Committee and executive deputy mayor, met with the delegation on Jan 26.
Zheng said that Xiamen is known as the “Garden on the Sea” and ranked second among the cities in China with the best air quality.
The US is an important trade partner with Xiamen and import and export trade between the two exceeded $13 billion in 2015, ranking third among Xiamen’s international trade partners, Zhang added.
Zheng encouraged Xiamen to further facilitate communication and cooperation with the US in terms of economic development.
Baucus expressed interest in Xiamen’s economic and social development and the city’s new trend of industrial development. In addition, he shared opinions on industrial transformation and upgrading issues and cross-straits relations.
The ambassador said that he will make efforts in mutual communication and cooperation to increase investment and strengthen industrial cooperation between the US and Xiamen.
Chen Lisheng, chief of the Xiamen Municipal Bureau of Commerce, Lin Xiaohui, deputy director of Xiamen Development and Reform Commission, Li Xiaoping, director of Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of Xiamen Municipal Government and Tan Zhuanglong, deputy executive secretary at Xiamen municipal government were among those in attendance at the meeting.
The delegation visited Dell and Xiamen Air before travelling to Gulangyu Island, the former site of the US Consulate.
China announced and implemented on May 15 a policy allowing visa-free entry of foreign tourist groups aboard cruise ships via all cruise ship ports along the country's coastline.
China and Georgia are set to waive visa requirements for travelers starting May 28.
