Committee of 100 Supports Formalizing Permanent, Normal Trade Relations for China; Americans of Chinese Descent Conclude Annual Meeting in Los Angeles.

Business Editors

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 9, 2000

Granting China permanent normal trade relations would spur new jobs and exports in the United States and help China improve its standard of living, human rights and social stability, an organization of prominent Chinese-Americans has concluded.

"Granting China permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) will increase U.S. exports and create at least 150,000 new jobs," said Henry Tang, chairman of the Committee of 100, which concluded its annual conference in Los Angeles. "Of course, China will also benefit from increased two-way trade. Increased trade means a higher standard of living, improved human rights and greater social stability for China -- all important factors contributing toward world stability."

As a major player in the global economy, China is slated to enter the World Trade Organization (WTO) and integrate into the world community. In order for the United States to enjoy open market conditions in China mandated by the terms of WTO, Congress must grant China permanent normal trade relations. By refusing China PNTR, U.S. corporations and farmers will not enjoy the same terms as all other nations in trade with China.

As Americans of Chinese ancestry, members of the Committee -- through contacts, visits and upbringing -- offer their insights of a China that has been evolving over the past decades. These insights include:

-- China's entry into the World Trade Organization will further

raise the living standards and thus improve human rights

inside China. Being integrated into the world community

assures that China's interests will converge with the

interests of the rest of the world.

-- An internally stable China, with more than one-fifth of the

world's population, can only advance the cause of peace,

prosperity and democracy for the entire world.

-- Through WTO, Americans will be able to participate fully in

the Internet, telecommunication, media and people-intensive

service industries in China.

-- The introduction of American ideas, global information and

perspectives to China's people will connect China to the

society of nations. Whether it is for soft drinks, fast food,

movies or cosmetics, there are 200 million to 300 million

Chinese consumers that can afford and prefer American brands.

As China's economy expands, more Chinese will buy American --

provided PNTR is in place.

Western organizations, by their presence in China, promote the importance of the rule of law to China, the committee concluded. While many deficiencies remain in actual practice, increased engagement of China in the world community will only increase awareness of the need for rule of law among the Chinese people. Rule of law over personal power and corruption is a pre-condition to a real democracy.

The Committee believes that while human rights remain an area for improvement, Chinese citizens now enjoy freedoms not available to them as recently as 10 years ago, such as the freedom to choose their jobs, to choose where they live, to travel, to own their homes and to decide on a variety of life styles. Interaction with the West can only raise their expectations and their desire to control their own lives.

Western joint ventures in China generally impose Western working standards. They have raised the working conditions and standards and influenced the practices of others. Increasing involvement of American corporations can only improve the labor conditions and bring them closer to world standards.

China is showing increasing concern for protecting the environment as evidenced by the government action to green major cities such as Beijing and Shanghai. The engagement of the United States, with its environmental sensitivity, pollution control technology and clean manufacturing practices, will accelerate the reversal of environmental damage in China and the world.

The Committee of 100 believes that a strained and estranged relationship between the United States and China that would surely ensue with the defeat of PNTR can have no beneficial impact on any of the above considerations. Conversely, a strong and positive relationship can further the cause of world peace and stability.

"The peace and security of future generations of Americans and Chinese depend on close and friendly cooperation between the countries, and thus, hinge on Congress enacting and approving PNTR to China," Tang said.

Founded in 1990, the Committee of 100 is a national, non-politically aligned organization that pools the strength of prominent Chinese-Americans. Members include leaders in the arts, business, education, law, medicine, public service, science, engineering and beyond. Each shares a commitment to the concerns of the Chinese-American community.