President Hu Luncheon Remarks

Muhtar Kent, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Coca-Cola Company
President Hu Luncheon Remarks
Washington, D.C.
January 20, 2011

As prepared for delivery

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.

Welcome to our luncheon in honor of the President of the People's Republic of China - the Honorable Hu Jintao, and our distinguished guests from the China delegation.

Our two co-hosts today - the U.S. China Business Council and the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations - are delighted and honored that you could join us on this historic occasion.

We all recognize that the U.S.-China relationship grows more important every day. In just the last few months, we've witnessed an unprecedented level of exchanges.

Last September Premier Wen Jiaboa visited New York, and many of you probably recall that our two organizations also co-hosted a dinner for him during that visit.

This past December, Vice Premier Wang Qishan, visited Washington.

Just last week, Defense Secretary Gates was in Beijing.

And now President Hu is making his first state visit to our Nation's Capital and Chicago.

Yesterday, I had the privilege of attending a meeting with President Hu, President Obama, and with business and government leaders from both our countries.

We had a very productive discussion about the unique and powerful role businesses in China and America can play in:

•  creating greater understanding between our nations...
•  promoting innovation and investment ...
•  and generating jobs and opportunity for American and Chinese workers.

For those of us who are working to promote stronger ties between our two countries, these exchanges are encouraging.

While differences and challenges exist, this increased dialogue represents a sincere desire to build stronger U.S.-China relations.

Today and in the decades ahead, U.S.-China relations will be the most important bilateral relationship. Indeed, strengthening our relationship is better for China. Better for the U.S. And better for the world.

The more we can come together ... understand each other ... and find common ground - the less likely we are to raise obstacles to trade, innovation, investment and economic growth.

In the years ahead, we will become more - not less - dependent on each other for our own economic success.

It is our strongly held belief that, over the long run, innovation and economic growth are most effectively achieved by open trade and dialogue.

This will be equally true for other aspects of our relationship as well.

And for these reasons, we are extremely pleased to welcome President Hu and to hear in just a few minutes his policy speech on U.S.-China relations.

In honor of this historic moment, I would like to propose a toast to President Hu and to our many guests from the China delegation.

Ladies and gentlemen, here's to the great future of China... the great future of the U.S. ... and to the continued strong health of U.S.-China relations.

Thank you.

Now, I'd like to introduce a gentleman who plays a critical role in shaping healthy U.S. relations with China.

Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke has graciously agreed to make brief remarks on behalf of the Obama administration.

Secretary Locke, as you know, just last month co-chaired the successful JCCT. I should note that two other leaders of that important dialogue are also here today - Secretary Locke's co-chair, US Trade Representative Ron Kirk, and of course, well-known to all in this room, China's Vice Premier, Wang Qishan.

I applaud and thank all three of you for the important work you are doing to build healthy commercial relations.

Secretary Locke is a strong supporter of balanced and constructive US-China commercial relations. We are fortunate to have him representing our commercial interests here and around the globe - and fortunate to hear his remarks today.

Please join me in giving a warm welcome to Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke.

President Hu - thank you for those most important and insightful remarks. And thank you for the privilege of your company and the company of your entire delegation today.

This has been tremendously productive.

I would like to now invite everyone to enjoy a fine lunch and conversation.

Thank you.