The exchange and cooperation in housing construction between China and the United States have been an important part of the China-US cooperative activities, giving the American people more information about China, and helping to improve the development of the two countries' housing industry.
Deputy Director General Shen Jianguo of the department of international relations of China's Ministry of Construction, made the above remarks in Shanghai on November 7. Shen was in Shanghai for the National Association of Home Builders'(NAHB) international conference, "World Focus on Housing: China" which opened Wednesday.
Shen said, with the coming of China's World Trade Organization (WTO) entry, American housing developers are closely following China's moves in the domestic market.
The US hopes to have more opportunities to cooperate with China, especially in high technology and advanced products. A strong delegation of American experts arrived in China to attend this conference, Shen said.
Shen said the Chinese government also hopes the Sino-US cooperation in housing construction will be furthered through more contact, adding that both parties can seek opportunities for cooperation in broad areas according to their needs.
On the Sino-US housing initiative started last year, Shen said the project is now making progress, and will go into the new century with support and help from both governments and enterprises.
The Sino-US exchange and cooperation in housing construction between China and the United States were jointly proposed by former US President Bill Clinton and Chinese President Jiang Zemin in 1998. The Sino-US Housing Initiative began last May, and in line with the agreement, China will start two housing demonstration projects in Beijing and Shanghai using new designs and technology, with the US offering building materials and equipment.
(People's Daily November 8, 2001)
