The Chinese delegation, headed by Vice-Communication Minister Hong Shanxiang, and the US delegation, chaired by the Administrator of Maritime Administration of the US Department of Transportation William Schubert, exchanged views on bilateral marine transport relations and issues of common interest.

The Chinese side briefed the US side on the International Maritime Transportation Regulations of the People's Republic of China, which came into force on January 1 of 2002.

China pointed out that the regulations aimed to help meet China's WTO commitments relating to marine transport services and comply with the principles of openness, transparency and lack of bias.

The Chinese government has introduced a number of reforms, which will assist market-oriented development and create more openness. The new regulations will play an active role in protecting fair competition, maintaining the international marine market order and safeguarding the interests of all parties.

The US side said that China's explanations had made it easier to understand the new regulations and welcomed the changes made by China in order to work towards market-oriented legislation for the marine transport sector.

The Chinese side said it was hoped a delegation would be sent to Washington to obtain further information on marine transport legislation and relevant management practices in the US.

The two sides also discussed various issues which have been of interest to both parties during their long period of bilateral maritime relations and agreed to further bilateral discussions on maritime transportation.

(People's Daily March 22, 2002)