Nation to continue opening up: top diplomat

Chinese Ambassador to the US Cui Tiankai has said in Frankfort, capital of Kentucky, that China will continue to open its doors to the global community.

“We cannot develop ourselves behind closed doors... We have to open our door even wider and seek cooperation with others, particularly with countries like the United States,” Cui said at the welcome banquet held by Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin on Monday.

Cui said China-US relations are not zero-sum game, but rather will continue to be mutually beneficial. He said Beijing and Washington should deal with trade issues in an effective way.

Addressing Kentucky officials and businesses, Cui said he has full confidence in bilateral cooperation at the provincial, municipal and county levels, adding that the Chinese people came to know the US state after the first Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant opened in Beijing over three decades ago.

Over the past decades, the Chinese people have learned that the state has much more to offer, including Bourbon, race horses, farm products and manufactured goods, prompting the Chinese public and business leaders to develop strong relations with Kentucky, Cui said.

Bevin said his administration is working to cut red tape for businesses who wish to invest in Frankfort, highlighting the elaborate transportation web his state boasts.