Commerce secretary hails China's rise

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 (UPI) -- The rise of China has been good for American business and workers, U.S. Commerce Gary Locke says.

"China has lifted almost 200 million people out of poverty. And in the years ahead, hundreds of millions more Chinese will ascend into the middle class," Locke said at a U.S.-China conference in Washington Thursday, the Chinese government's Xinhua agency reported.

"The United States welcomes this growth because this is good for the people of China. ... It's good for the global economy and good for U.S. business and, ultimately, U.S. workers," Locke said.

In 2009, bilateral trade reached $365 billion. China was the largest supplier of U.S. imports and America's third-largest export market after Canada and Mexico.

"In many areas, especially in emerging industries, like clean energy and biotechnology, the interests of China and the United States are tied together," Locke said.

The U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade is meeting in Washington Dec. 14-15. It will be led by Locke and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk, along with Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan.