“Attracting foreign investment is our long-term policy”. All of the American CEOs participating signed a letter to Xi and U.S. President Barack Obama urging them to support an agreement. They view the stop before Xi’s first state visit to Washington, D.C., as a chance for him to shore up relations with United States companies and burnish his image as his regime copes with an economic slowdown Beijing planners are calling the country’s “new normal”.
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Chinese officials and business tycoons know Washington state well.
But it was not until the China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) in 2013 that the talks entered a substantial phase, when the two countries agreed to conduct negotiations on the basis of pre-establishment national treatment with a negative list approach.
“By so doing, we aim to timely address the legitimate concerns of foreign investors, protect their lawful rights and interests and foster a level playing field with open and transparent laws and policies, along with a more efficient administration”, said the president.
Striking agreements to ensure continued robust global trade was a top priority, he said.
China was going ahead with changes to make the yuan convertible on the capital account in a “steady and orderly manner”, Xi said.
Since the devaluation, China has scrambled to keep the yuan steady – running down its foreign exchange reserves by a record US$94 billion in August. “China will never close its open door to the outside world”, Xi said, according to a translation of his remarks.
“She shares my impressions”, Xi said.
“I could tell from these personal experiences that the Chinese and Americans cherish very friendly sentiments toward each other”, Xi said. Lack of understanding between countries is indeed a question, but this is life, Xi said.
Xi said China’s internet sector is booming, providing huge opportunities and market horizon for businesses around the world.
Wong, writing to the company’s 30,000-plus employees in China, said that in the meetings, Starbucks hopes to “convey the gratitude and responsibility we have to all of you and the communities we serve in China”.
Interactions between countries start with their people, Xi said, noting exchanges and friendship between their two peoples have a long history.
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He said China was a staunch defender of cyber security, but it had also been a victim of hacking.
