VICE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT LETTER TO DOT

UNCLAS BEIJING 002569 SIPDIS STATE FOR EEB/TRA DAS JOHN BYERLY STATE FOR EAP/CM PETER SECOR/JOY YAMAMOTO TRANSPORTATION FOR DAS JOEL SZABAT/DAS SUSAN MCDERMOTT TRANSPORTATION FOR X1, X40 TRANSPORTATION FOR BERNESTINE ALLEN/NICOLE PORTER TREASURY FOR DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF TAIYA SMITH TREASURY FOR AMBASSADOR ALAN HOLMER TREASURY FOR MANAGING DIRECTOR DAN WRIGHT E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EWWT ELTN CH SUBJECT: VICE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT LETTER TO DOT DEPUTY SECRETARY ¶1. (U) On June 30, post received via facsimile diplomatic note No. (2008)090 dated June 26 from the Department of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Transport (MOT) transmitting a letter (Note: Courtesy translation provided by MOT. End Note) from MOT Vice Minister Weng Mengyong to United States Department of Transportation (DOT) Deputy Secretary Thomas Barrett. Post e-mailed a scanned version of the letter to DOT on June 30. The text of the letter is below. Begin text: June 26, 2008 H.E. Thomas J. Barrett Deputy Secretary of Transportation The United States of America Your Excellency, It was my great pleasure to meet you during the fourth U.S.-China Strategic Economic Dialogue held in the United States, exchanging views on expanding U.S.- China transportation cooperation and signing the Joint Declaration on Transportation Cooperation between two sides. Here I would like to thank your Excellency and your colleagues for your considerate arrangement and warm hospitality during our stay in the United States. China and U.S. are important trade partners, and transportation, maritime transport in particular, plays a vital role in making possible the great volumes of trade flows. The Joint Declaration, identifying the priorities and direction for our future cooperation, will further promote the pragmatic transportation cooperation between our two countries. Your Excellency, I would like to reiterate that the Chinese side attaches great importance to transportation cooperation with the U.S. and, we are willing to work closely with you to launch cooperation in areas identified in the Joint Declaration under the framework of U.S.-China Strategic Economic Dialogue, aiming at pushing forward the efficient, safe and sustainable development of transportation. Once again thank your Excellency for your hospitality extended to us and I am looking forward to meeting you in the near future. Please accept, your Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration. (Weng Mengyong) Vice Minister of Transport The People's Republic of China End text. RANDT