« History tells us that openness and cooperation is all the more important amidst a crisis, » Chinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming said in a speech just before China Telecom signed contracts with Cisco, Microsoft, Dell, Emerson and Alcatel-Lucent.

« Trade protectionism will not restore growth. On the contrary, it will exacerbate recession, » Chen said.

Another company, China Mobile also closed deals with HP, Alcatel-Lucent, Oracle, Emerson, Sun Microsystems and Cisco, while China Construction Bank signed with Microsoft, IBM, HP, and Cisco. There were also deals between Ford and Amway with their Chinese counterparts. Details of the deals were not released at the event.

Alcatel-Lucent said it had signed a $1 billion agreement with China Mobile and a $700 million deal with China Telecom to provide network upgrades, integration and maintenance services in 2009.

Chen said the contracts showed China’s « unequivocal » opposition to protectionism and how growth in the Chinese economy would help create jobs abroad.

The three Chinese trade delegations  to the U.S. included large State-owned enterprises and private corporations in mechanical and electronic engineering, light industry and investment. They  travelled to 14 states, looking for opportunities for trade and investment in small business, environmental protection, high technology and energy conservation.

China’s persistent trade surplus with the United States, a source of tension between Beijing and Washington,  hit a record $266.3 billion in 2008.

However, the global recession has hurt both countries’ exports and increased the temptation for governments around the world to raise import barriers to protect local companies.

The visit was an opportunity for Chen to acquaint himself with his US counterpart Locke and US Trade Representative Ron Kirk. Both of the US officials took office last month.

On the other hand, Locke and Energy Secretary Steven Chu, two Chinese Americans in Obama’s cabinet, are expected to visit China in September. Locke said he may be accompanied by a large US delegation.

U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk said he looked forward to working with Chen to finish the long-running Doha round of world trade talks and to tackle bilateral trade disputes through the U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade.

While China turns to high-profile channels to communicate with the US, it is prepared to protect the interests of its companies.

« China will resort to the World Trade Organization if the US takes unfair actions against Chinese companies, » Chen said.

The US International Trade Commission on Thursday approved anti-dumping duties ranging from 74 to 101 percent on welded steel line pipe from China that it said was sold at unfairly low prices.

Source : Konaxis