Chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) Ren Hongbin met with Brian Sikes, President and Chief Executive Officer of American multinational food company Cargill, in Beijing on Friday. Sikes was among the high-level delegation of more than a dozen U.S. business leaders accompanying U.S. President Donald Trump during his three-day state visit to China from Wednesday to Friday at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping. The delegation included senior figures from the technology, finance, aviation and agriculture sectors.
During a meeting with Sikes on Friday, CCPIT Chairman Ren stressed that China will continue to open its market to foreign enterprises following the meeting between the two heads of state, saying that CCPIT will work to promote more exchanges and cooperation between the Chinese and U.S. business communities.
"I think China will continue to adhere to high-standard opening up, and we will provide more protection for the legitimate rights and interests of foreign companies here," Ren said.
Agribusiness leader Cargill has operated in the Chinese market for more than five decades. In an interview with a reporter outside the meeting venue, Sikes said that he and other U.S. business leaders felt encouraged over the past days, noting that the two sides had good communication and are headed toward a better place. "I'm very optimistic about collaboration with China. We're just trying to play our part to represent agriculture, farmers around the world. And we believe that food, it can be a bridge to better relationships," said Sikes.
Chinese trade body chief meets Cargill CEO
