Beijing — A just-concluded trip to China by U.S. officials highlighted the importance of trade and competitiveness to the U.S.-China relationship.

U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Stefan M. Selig, who concluded a four-day trip to Shanghai and Beijing on October 16, spent time promoting the expansion of the U.S.-China commercial relationship before the upcoming U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT) ministerial meeting.

“The United States and China share a mutually beneficial trade relationship. We had very productive meetings these past few days, but we still have more work to do on critical issues that will help strengthen our economic and commercial relationship,” Selig said in an October 16 International Trade Administration (ITA) press release.

“A strong relationship benefits the citizens of both of our countries. The JCCT is a critical component of U.S. engagement in China, and an important mechanism in our efforts to further build on the U.S.-China partnership.”

While in Beijing, Selig participated in JCCT vice-ministerial meetings with China’s Ministry of Commerce and co-chaired the JCCT U.S.-China Industries and Competitiveness Dialogue with China’s vice minister of information and industry technology, Liu Lihua, and Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Robert Holleyman.

In Shanghai, Selig spoke at a breakfast hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce, where he discussed how the U.S.-China trade relationship has deepened in the last several years. He also met with local experts to learn more about plans for the Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone, which China has said will enable foreign enterprises to compete on the same terms as Chinese firms across a wide range of services sectors.

Selig also hosted meetings with U.S. company representatives to discuss challenges and opportunities for U.S. exporters and service providers across China. And while touring the new Shanghai Disney Resort construction site, he got a firsthand look at the impact of U.S. private sector participation in China’s economic growth.

China was the third-largest market for U.S. exports in 2013 (after Canada and Mexico), ITA said. U.S. goods exports to China were $122 billion in 2013, up 652 percent since 2000. U.S. trade in services with China (exports and imports) totaled $52.1 billion in 2013.