International Dialogue Between Industrial Associations

SHANGHAI, China (August 19) -The China Federation of Industrial Economies (CFIE), one of the largest industrial associations in China, is revving up efforts to increase dialogue between industrial and commercial associations and organizations across the globe. This is also a fresh effort of the federation to strengthen relations with its international counterparts, in a bid to play a larger role as the Chinese economy is integrated into the world market after China's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO), said the federation's vice-president Du Jinling. CFIE is focusing efforts on resolution of international commercial disputes, as China is facing an increasing number of anti-dumping charges and trade frictions, Du said. "Sometimes, trade frictions and anti-dumping charges occur because of the lack of mutual understanding and communication between each other." China currently is subject to more anti-dumping measures than any other country with a total of 600 cases as of February 2004, a figure that is expected to rise further. According to the newspaper China Daily, associations such as the China Iron and Steel Association and the China Bicycle Association, have already played a role in settling international trade disputes. (MH)