UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE JOSETTE SHEERAN HOLDS 6TH ROUND OF STATE-NDRC DIALOGUE WITH NDRC VICE CHAIRMAN ZHU ZHIXIN

December 17, 2006

BEIJING – U.S. Undersecretary of State for Economic, Energy and Agricultural Affairs Josette Sheeran and the Vice Chairman of China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), Zhu Zhixin, today co-chaired a successful 6th Round of the State – NDRC Dialogue.  The Round focused on effective rural agricultural development strategies, which are critical for the future prosperity of both China and the United States. 

During the Dialogue, Vice Chairman Zhu emphasized the importance China places on improving agricultural productivity, raising rural living standards, promoting coordinated urban-rural development, and protecting the environment.  To highlight progress toward these objectives, he took delegates from both countries on a visit to Miao Ergang village in Beijing Municipality, where China’s Central Government is supporting projects that promote renewable energy, agricultural technology, and a clean living environment.

Undersecretary Sheeran, Undersecretary of Agriculture for Rural Development Thomas Dorr and other members of the U.S. delegation offered valuable lessons learned from America’s experience in rural development, and discussed proven strategies for raising rural incomes and promoting consumption. 

“Boosting farm productivity and promoting robust rural growth and development are critical to alleviating poverty and improving food security in the developing world,” Undersecretary Sheeran said.  “We were pleased to see first hand the important progress China is making on both these fronts.”

“As the world’s largest agriculture exporter, the United States has a successful track record of designing innovative solutions to meet rural challenges,” Undersecretary Sheeran added.  “Today’s dialogue provided a vital opportunity share some of those solutions with our Chinese colleagues.” 

Launched in 2003, the State-NDRC Dialogue is designed to strengthen bilateral economic ties through targeted discussion of key structural reform challenges.  Previous Dialogues focused on energy, macroeconomic reform policies, foreign direct investment, telecommunications and capital markets.  The next Round will be held in the United States in 2007.

The 6th Round of the State-NDRC Dialogue followed the conclusion of the first Strategic Economic Dialogue, which was co-chaired by Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson, Jr. and Vice Premier Wu Yi in Beijing on December 14-15.