On November 21, 2011, with Vice Premier Wang Qishan attending the award ceremony, Wan Jifei, Chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) on behalf of the CCPIT accepted the “2011 Peace Through Commerce Medal Award” presented by the US Commerce Secretary Bryson. Hence, the CCPIT became the first organization on the Chinese mainland to win this prestigious award. In an exclusive interview with China’s Foreign Trade after the award ceremony, Chairman Wan Jifei stressed that the commercial and industrial domains would enhance understanding via communication and strive for win-win cooperation and harmonious coexistence.
　　Q: Would you like to share your feelings about winning the “Peace Through Commerce Medal Award”granted by the US Department of Commerce?
　　A: Today, the US Commerce Secretary Bryson presented the “Peace Through Commerce Medal Award” to the CCPIT and it is our honor to be the first winner of this prestigious award on the Chinese mainland, as it is an encouraging recognition of the CCPIT’s efforts in strengthening the Sino-US economic and trade relations in the past years and it is also an encouragement for me.
　　Peace is the universal well-being and rosy wishes for the entire mankind, including the two peoples of China and the US. Commerce promotes peace and communication enhances understanding; cooperation also brings about winwin results and harmonious coexistence, which I think is the ultimate purpose for establishing the Peace Through Commerce Medal Award.
　　The CCPIT will continue to assist the two governments of China and the US in carrying out practical and effec- tive business promotion activities and will energetically innovate to make fresh efforts for the sound and steady development of the Sino-US economic and trade relations.
　　Q: It is learned that at this year’s session of the China-US Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT), the CCPIT renewed the MOU on Sino-US Enterprise Cooperation and Business Matchmaking Program with the US Department of Commerce. Would you please introduce this program?
　　A: As early as 2005, the CCPIT and the US Department of Commerce signed the MOU on Sino-US Enterprise Cooperation and Business Matchmaking Program and the program has then set up program offices in 14 CCPIT branches in such cities as Harbin, Dalian, Tianjin, Nanjing, Wuhan and Kunming, launching many business matchmaking projects for the Chinese companies and its US counterparts and lending support to these companies in terms of business matchmaking negotiation, product promotion and market research. With efforts from all sides, the program has delivered remarkable achievements. Implemented smoothly, by the end of last year, a total of 374 service projects had been accomplished, such as the 3rd Phase of the Qianshan Nuclear Power Station fully adopting the US Conco’s pipeline clean technology and the US franchising brands (e.g., Papa John’s and Gymboree) settling in Hangzhou. The program has become an important channel for Sino-US economic and trade cooperation and it has been highly appreciated by the US Congress, Government and companies. Today, the CCPIT renewed the program for another two years with the US Department of Commerce, hoping to make contribution to promote the sound and steady development of the Sino-US economic and trade relations.
　　Q: In recent years, what efforts have the CCPIT made in strengthening the Sino-US economic and trade ties?
　　A: In recent years, the CCPIT has made great contribution to promote the development of the Sino-US economic and trade relations. Besides the above-mentioned SinoUS Enterprise Cooperation and Business Matchmaking Program, we have also made contribution from the following aspects: first, we have expanded imports and boosted Chinese investments in the US together with such organization as the US Department of Commerce and the US-China Business Council. Second, we have encouraged Sino-US non-governmental economic and trade contacts. Every year, the CCPIT hosts 7-8 visiting US governors who lead economic and trade delegations to China. In the mean time, we have also organized the Chinese entrepreneurs to visit the US local provinces and states, seeking industrial cooperation through provincial- and state-level exchanges. Third, on behalf of the commercial and industrial sectors, we have encouraged high-end communications between the Chinese business domain and its US counterpart. As the spokesperson of the commercial and industrial sectors, the CCPIT has well communicated and cooperated with the mainstream business associations such as the American Chamber of Commerce in China (AmChamChina) and the US-China Business Council, held talks around the hot and sensitive issues for the Sino-US economic and trade relations and underscored the concerns of the business domain, making great efforts in pushing forward cooperation in such fields as bilateral trade, investment and finance. Forth, bringing its superiority into full play, the CCPIT has provided better services for both the Chinese companies and the US companies particularly for the SMEs via multifold approaches ranging from organizing exhibitions and reciprocal visits among corporate delegations to providing legal services and intellectual property services.
　　Q: How do you think of the status quo and the outlook of the SinoUS economic and trade ties?
　　A: In spite of challenges and complicated factors, I’m still confident about the development of the SinoUS economic and trade relations. Over the years, the Sino-US economic and trade ties have become more and more interdependent and the two countries are highly complementary in terms of market, capital and technology, which promise tremendous potential for cooperation. Against such a backdrop when the European debt crisis lingers and the global economy remains turbulent with mounting uncertainties, closer bilateral cooperation between the US and China is in the fundamental interests of the two countries and is also in favor of global economic recovery and growth.
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　　Set up by the first US Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson in 1790, the Peace Through Commerce Medal Award honors organizations or individuals who have made remarkable contributions to expand US exports and attract overseas investments. The China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) is the first organization on the Chinese mainland to win the prestigious award. In recent years, the CCPIT has cooperated with such federal organization as the US Department of Commerce, the US state governments and the major business associations in holding a string of activities including Sino-US Enterprise Cooperation & Business Matchmaking Program, Sino-US Business Council and Seminar on Investing in the US and it has been highly valued by both the Chinese government and the US government for its positive role in expanding Sino-US bilateral trade and two-way investments.