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REMARKS FOR
THE HONORABLE NORMAN Y. MINETA
SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION
SIGNING CEREMONY FOR U.S.-CHINA AVIATION SERVICES AGREEMENT
BEIJING, CHINA
JULY 24, 2004
10:30 A.M.
Good morning. Thank you for that kind introduction and warm welcome, Minister
Yang.
Let me first begin by expressing greetings from President Bush and Vice
President Cheney.
I would also like to express my personal appreciation to Minister Yang, to the
Chinese government, and to the Chinese people, for your hospitality and
graciousness.
My delegation and I have greatly enjoyed our visit. Over the past three days, I
have met with Minister of Communications Zhang, Vice Minister of Railways Wang,
and just this morning, with Minister Yang. I come away from those meetings
deeply impressed by China’s growth and by its vision for managing that growth.
I also came away from my meetings with a greater appreciation for how much China
and the United States have in common in the area of transportation – common
strengths and common challenges – and the tremendous potential for cooperation
between our two countries in maritime, mass transit, highways, and of course,
aviation.
Minister Yang and I met this morning to discuss our efforts of continued
cooperation on a range of civil aviation issues.
We had an excellent meeting, discussing issues of mutual interest in the areas
of aviation safety, aviation security, the development of aviation
infrastructure as well as aviation manufacturing. Building on a long-standing,
close relationship between our agencies, we have resolved to continue our
partnership in these areas.
Of course, we also discussed the landmark air services agreement that I am very
pleased to sign today.
In a sentence, this agreement reflects our common understanding that the air
services links between our two countries must grow to keep pace with the growing
economic and social ties between our two countries.
Recognizing the extraordinary growth in economic and societal relations, our two
governments successfully resolved that aviation services between our two
countries must grow to ensure that transportation does not become a bottleneck –
a brake on our growing relationship. Negotiated quickly and cordially, the new
agreement helps to ensure that aviation is instead an engine of growth.
This agreement builds stronger connections between fast-growing U.S. and Chinese
economies, bringing more opportunity, more travel and more jobs on both sides of
the Pacific.
This historic pact will permit a nearly five-fold increase in weekly flights
between our countries over the next six years, to a total of 249 weekly flights.
In fact, just hours ago in Washington, D.C., the Department of Transportation
announced 14 new flights between the United States and China made possible by
this agreement.
The Department has awarded United Airlines the rights to begin a new daily
nonstop service between Chicago and Shanghai and Northwest Airlines now has the
rights to operate a new daily flight from Detroit to Guangzhou, via Tokyo.
These new services will provide much needed additional capacity in new and
growing markets, benefiting travelers and shippers.
The agreement will also allow for entry by new carriers. Under the agreement, we
will be selecting a new cargo carrier to start service later this year, a new
passenger carrier to start service next year, and another passenger or cargo
carrier to begin service in 2006.
In addition, this agreement provides unlimited bilateral code sharing and
virtually open skies rights at cargo hubs in China beginning in January 2007, as
well as expanded air charter services.
This pact represents tremendous progress in our aviation relations, but we know
that there’s more we can accomplish.
That’s why we have agreed to resume talks in 2006 to review our aviation
relationship, and seek further progress on liberalizing this agreement.
We have also extended our partnership to building the infrastructure needed to
support growing aviation traffic.
To that end, I am pleased to announce today the signing of a grant from the U.S.
Trade and Development Agency for $500,000.
The funds are the first installment of a grant worth $1 million in total.
Today’s grant will go toward the U.S.-China Aviation Cooperation Program (ACP),
otherwise known as the Wright Brothers Partnership.
This public-private program brings together our Federal Aviation Administration
and a dozen U.S. aviation companies in China with one goal – to strengthen
China’s aviation infrastructure.
I want to commend the American Chamber of Commerce in Beijing for its leadership
in organizing and sponsoring this valuable partnership.
I also want to acknowledge the work being done in the private sector by Boeing,
General Electric, Honeywell, and other companies that are teaming with their
counterparts in China to further aviation safety.
Let me close by congratulating all the distinguished officials from the United
States and China, who have worked so hard to make this day happen. In
particular, I would like to recognize Minister Yang. Your Excellency, it is your
vision, tenacity, and creativity that must be credited for the new era of
aviation partnership.
I appreciate this opportunity to speak with you today. Thank you again for your
graciousness and hospitality.
May the good relations between the United States of America and the People’s
Republic of China continue to grow and flourish.
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