By Adam Allington, KWMU
Creve Coeur, MO – Chinese Ambassador Zhou Wenzhong is in St. Louis, Missouri for two days of meetings with business leaders and elected officials.
Wenzhong was the guest of honor at a luncheon in Creve Coeur on Wednesday. In a speech he said that China remains committed to an economic policy of 'opening up'.
All twenty of St. Louis' Fortune-1000 companies are pursuing business in China.
The ambassador welcomed those relationships but cautioned that politicizing commerce would benefit no one.
"The fifty or so China-related protectionist bills introduced in the U.S. Congress, concerning China's currency exchange rate, IPR trade imbalance and product safety are source of grave concern."
Trade relations with China have been hampered over ongoing disagreements over human rights, currency valuation and trade imbalance.
But, Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill said that engaging with China is the only way to work through these differences.
"There are things that many in America are frustrated about as it relates to China and our trade. But, we do know one thing, there are ways to solve a problem and there are ways to make it worse."
Wenzhong said that Missouri exports to China totaled $769 million in 2006, representing a total increase of 94-percent since 2000.
Ambassador Wenzhong has extended an invitation to Missouri Senators Kit Bond and Claire McCaskill to visit China in March.