China is US's important strategic partner, U.S. experts say

China's economic outlook is going to be very bright and the United States is looking at China as an important strategic partner, said some American experts in Chicago.

In an interview with Xinhua on Tuesday at a Luncheon to welcome a business delegation from China's Shenyang, Bill Spence, a Chicago lawyer and Co-chairman of Sister Cities China Committee, said that China-U.S. trade relationship has been very deep and very important.

"China is becoming the manufacturing center of the world. And we are looking at China as a strategic partner in all ways. China is a great market for our goods and services and we are for China as well. China is developing its own domestic market which is very important for us," Spence said.

"A great deal of benefits are going to come out from embracing China in all areas such as economic, political, military. We are going to be good friends and good partners for many years to come and I look forward to being part of that relationship," he added.

Spence has visited China many times over the past few years and noticed remarkable transformation over there. He is also actively involved in many business and cultural activities between China and the United States.

When talking about the upcoming visit of U.S. President Barack Obama to China, Spence said "we are hoping his meeting with Chinese leaders will go well. We want to be able to work together with China in as many areas as possible, recognize that working together China and the U.S. will have great influence on what happens on the rest of the world."

Thomas Gehl, an attorney from Am Asia Law LLC, said that China's economic outlook is going to be very bright over the next 10 years. He told Xinhua "it has been so interesting to be able to travel back and forth to see the different economic conditions in China over the last few years. China has faired so much better than the U.S. and the rest of the world when dealing with the global financial crisis."

"The Chinese central government has built a very strong economic base to be able to continue the expansion of their business objective. China's economic outlook is going to be very bright," Gehl added.

Thomas W. Albrecht, chairman of International Operations Committee at Sidley Austin LLP who hosted Tuesday's luncheon, has visited China for about 20 times over the last few years. "I am very impressed by China's economic growth. And I would like to join the world in applauding China for its phenomenal economic achievements," he said.

Sidley Austin LLP is the law firm where President Obama and first lady Michelle first met many years ago. Albrecht said "I did have the chance to meet President Obama when he was working at our firm as a summer intern. I knew right away that he is a very special and smart individual. There was no doubt that he is going to be very successful whatever he chose to pursue."

When talking about President Obama's upcoming visit to China, Albrecht said "I am very excited about the visit not only as an American, but also as someone who has visited China many times. It will be a very important conversation with President Hu Jintao and it is a very critical moment for President Obama's young administration."

Source: Xinhua