Shanghai, China
Statement
                               by

             Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman
                           Arrival in
                Shanghai, China   April 27, 2000

     "Good morning.  It's a great honor to be here in Shanghai, this nation's
most dynamic and  progressive city.  We are here because we believe that
Shanghai, already a economic trend-setter, can become one of the world's
leading commercial centers in the 21st century.

     "This trip comes at a pivotal moment in U.S.-China relations.  China has
taken extraordinary steps to open their country and their economy, now
preparing to join the World Trade Organization and become fully integrated
into a rules-based global marketplace.  We in the United States are deciding
whether to use this opportunity to make our bilateral relationship as strong
as it's ever been, by granting China Permanent Normal Trade Relations.  I
believe   and President Clinton believes   that it's an opportunity we cannot
let get away.

     "Accompanying me on this trip are four members of the United States
Congress, who will be voting on the PNTR issue next month, as well as the
Governor of the state of North Dakota and representatives from the White
House, the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Commerce.  

     "We are here to educate ourselves, to better understand China -- its
economy, its society and its people.  And we hope to come away with a greater
appreciation for all that the United States and China can achieve together,
through goodwill and cooperation, in the future.

     "We have just spent two days in Beijing, where we had a very productive
bilateral meeting with the Vice Premier, a meeting which covered a wide range
of issues in our relationship.  We also met with American Chamber of Commerce
members, just as we will do here in Shanghai; we had a stimulating discussion
with Chinese employees of U.S. high-tech companies; and we had dinner with a
group of Chinese academics and entrepreneurs.  

     "Here in Shanghai, we will see U.S.-China commercial cooperation in
action.  We will visit a soybean crushing plant that uses American soybeans to
make feed for Chinese livestock and oils for Chinese consumers.  We will go to
a market where American farm goods are being displayed, thanks to
implementation of the U.S.-China Agricultural Cooperation Agreement.  And I
look forward to talking with Chinese workers about their experiences working
for American companies.

     "But this trip is about more than bilateral trade.  We intend to explore
the entire U.S.-China relationship.  So we will also talk to religious leaders
and hold a meeting with Wang Daohan about China's relationship with Taiwan.

     "I'm confident that this trip will serve an important educational
function, not just for those of us traveling...but for the American people and
the Chinese people.  I believe that it will further reinforce the notion that
Permanent Normal Trade Relations will help advance Chinese social, political
and economic reform...as well as the economic, foreign policy and national
security interests of the United States.

"Thank you."

                                 
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