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1 U.S.-China Agreements: September 17, 1980 1 (1980)

handle is hein.weaties/uschag0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Selected Documents No. 18 U.S.-China Agreements September 17, 1980 0 United States Department of State Bureau of Public Affairs Washington, D.C. In a ceremony at the White House on September 17, 1980, President Carter and Vice Premier Bo Yibo of the People's Re- public of China signed four agreements- civil air transport, textile, maritime transport, and consular. Following are remarks made by the President and the Vice Premier on that occasion and the texts of the agreements. PRESIDENT CARTER We are here today to share some good news with each other. With the four agreements that we are about to sign, the normalization of relations between the United States of America and the People's Republic of China is at last com- plete. That relationship is a new and vital force for peace and stability in the inter- national scene. In addition, it holds a promise of ever-increasing benefits in trade and other exchanges for both the United States and for the People's Re- public of China. I am personally commit- ted to the proposition that our relation- ship will not be undermined but will be strengthened. Both the United States and China have made firm and written commitments which form the basis of this relationship. These commitments have the support of the people of my country and of your country, and therefore they will be honored. What we have accomplished together since the beginning of.diplomatic rela- tions between our countries has been ex- traordinary. But as I said. to Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping when he was here in Jan- uary 1979, our aim is to make these ex- changes not extraordinary but ordinary- in other words, to make the benefits of this new relationship a routine part of the everyday lives of the citizens of this coun- try and of the People's Republic of China. That is exactly what these four agree- ments will do. Let me say a brief word about each of them. First, the civil aviation agreement: This agreement will mean regularly scheduled, direct flights between the United States and China, beginning in the very near future. I have instructed the Civil Aeronautics Board to move quickly to name the first of the two U.S. airlines which, along with the Chinese carriers, will fly the new routes. At the airports in New York or Los Angeles or San Francisco or Honolulu a few months from today, we will hear flights an- nounced for Shanghai and for Beijing as well as London and Paris. Second, the maritime agreement: For the first time in more than 30 years, all U.S. ports will be open to Chinese merchant ships, and American ships will have access to all Chinese ports of call. This will mean a stronger American maritime industry. It will mean revenue for U.S. shippers from the growing Chinese market for American goods, and growing trade and commerce will benefit the people of both China and the United States. Third, the textile agreement: By permitting orderly marketing in this country of Chinese textile products, this agreement will benefit American retailers and consumers without damaging our own textile industry, which was fully rep- resented in these negotiations. The fourth agreement is the consular convention. It spells out the duties of consular officers in providing services to citizens of both our countries. One im- mediate benefit is to insure the protection of the rights and interests of American citizens in China. We have two Consu- lates in China already, and now we will open three more. These offices will pro- mote trade, travel, and cultural and edu- cational exchange. They will serve the needs of hundreds of thousands of Ameri- cans who will be visiting China in the next few years. On this side of the Pacific Ocean, China now has two Consulates in the United States-one in San Francisco and one in Houston. Soon, thanks to this agreement, there will be new Chinese Consulates in New York, Chicago, and Honolulu as well. These agreements, as you well know, are the fruit of some very hard work. A year ago, when Vice President Mondale visited China, both nations pledged an ef- fort to complete the political and legal framework of normalization by the end of 1980. We have met that goal with 31/ months to spare. The negotiators on both sides deserve the thanks and the appreci- ation of us all. I'm privileged to lead my great na- tion in taking this step. I consider it one of the most important achievements of my Administration-but it's an achieve- ment with a bipartisan history. President Nixon concluded the Shanghai com- munique of 1972, and President Ford ac- cepted and supported the principles of that communique. My Administration, working closely with the Congress, has taken the decisive steps which made that goal a reality