The Chinese and the United States governments held maritime
transportation talks in Beijing between March 19 and 21.
The Chinese delegation, headed by Vice-Communication Minister Hong
Shanxiang, and the US delegation, chaired by the Administrator of
Maritime Administration of the US Department of Transportation
William Schubert, exchanged views on bilateral marine transport
relations and issues of common interest.
The Chinese side briefed the US side on the International Maritime
Transportation Regulations of the People's Republic of China, which
came into force on January 1 of 2002.
China pointed out that the regulations aimed to help meet China's
WTO commitments relating to marine transport services and comply
with the principles of openness, transparency and lack of bias.
The Chinese government has introduced a number of reforms, which
will assist market-oriented development and create more openness.
The new regulations will play an active role in protecting fair
competition, maintaining the international marine market order and
safeguarding the interests of all parties.
The US side said that China's explanations had made it easier to
understand the new regulations and welcomed the changes made by
China in order to work towards market-oriented legislation for the
marine transport sector.
The Chinese side said it was hoped a delegation would be sent to
Washington to obtain further information on marine transport
legislation and relevant management practices in the US.
The two sides also discussed various issues which have been of
interest to both parties during their long period of bilateral
maritime relations and agreed to further bilateral discussions on
maritime transportation.
(
March 22, 2002)