U.S. Chamber of Commerce head discusses bilateral investment treaty

World Today

Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, talks with U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Thomas J. Donohue. (Photo credit: Jocelyn Chan / U.S. Chamber of Commerce)

Thomas J. Donohue, President and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce discussed the benefits of a bilateral investment treaty with China with CCTV News, after attending the seventh U.S.-China CEO and Former Senior Officials’ Dialogue at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Thursday.

Donohue emphasized that expanding the U.S.-China commercial relationship is essential to driving growth and stability in the global economy, the Chamber said on its website.

Donohue, leading CEOs, and former U.S. cabinet members spoke to China’s President Xi Jinping just before the dialogue, which is being co-chaired by Donohue and the China Center for International Economic Exchanges (CCIEE) Chairman and Former Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan.

Photo by U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Photo by U.S. Chamber of Commerce

The two-day meeting is expected to include discussions on two-way investment, bilateral investment treaty (BIT) negotiations, innovation, China’s G-20 year, global trade, finance, and energy, the Chamber website said.

“We urge the two governments to reinforce the economic and commercial relationship, including by concluding a high-standard, comprehensive BIT as soon as possible. The BIT remains the most substantial opportunity in the relationship to strengthen growth in both countries, and lead us forward on a path to deeper integration and stronger overall ties,” Donohue said in a statement.