Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Max Baucus (D-Mont.), Ranking Member on the Senate committee responsible for U.S. trade law, announced today he will visit China and India next week to examine thesecountries’ growing economies and determine ways to improve America’s competitiveness in the new global marketplace.
In China and India, Baucus will tour businesses to see how and why jobs are flowing into the Asian technology sector - which can illuminate what sorts of good-paying jobs can be created and kept in theUnited States. In both countries, Baucus will meet with entrepreneurs and educators, and will give majoraddresses on how our nations should relate on trade and other issues. Baucus’s trip will take him toBeijing, Chongqing, Bangalore and Delhi.at home for our children and grandchildren," said Baucus. “If we’re going to make the most of the world’s changing economics, we need to understand what’s happening in Asia today. I’m going to see what China and India are doing right. I’m going to see the challenges those countries face. I’m going to see what opportunities are there for America -what partnerships need to be made and strengthened. And I’m going to see where we need to workharder to stay ahead."
Several Montana business leaders will accompany Baucus on the trip. Beginning in Beijing, the group will meet with government officials and entrepreneurs, and tour Microsoft and Lenovo facilities. The next stop in Chonqing, China, will show the contrast between development in Western and central China withdevelopment in the more prosperous East.
Baucus will stop in Singapore to meet with former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. The delegation will then travel to Bangalore, India to visit software giant Infosys, the Jack Welch Technology Center, andother sites. Finally, in Delhi, Baucus and the delegation will meet with top government officials and speakwith students at Delhi’s prestigious Indian Institute of Technology.
NOTE TO PRESS - FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY: Please contact Carol Guthrie at 202-224-4515 or at carol_guthrie@finance-dem.senate.gov to inquire about coverage opportunities.
Baucus is the highest-ranking Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction overinternational trade policy in the U.S. In 2000, Baucus led the Congress in granting normal trading statusbetween the U.S. and China.
An itinerary for the trip follows. Some times and events are subject to change.
BAUCUS ASIA SCHEDULE - JANUARY 8-17, 2006
BEIJING, CHINA (arrive Sunday, January 8)
Monday, January 9
Tour and meetings at Microsoft Research Asia Tour and meetings at Lenovo Lunch with entrepreneurs and venture capitalists Dinner with U.S. Ambassador Clark “Sandy" Randt
Tuesday, January 10 Meet with Chinese Government officials TBD
12:00 p.m. U.S.-China Business Council luncheon at China World Hotel Senator Baucus gives keynote address (NOTE: OPEN TO PRESS)
Meet with Chinese Government officials TBD
CHONGQING, CHINA
Wednesday, January 11 Meet with Chongqing Resettlement Bureau officials Meet with Chongqing Environmental Bureau officials Lunch with Chinese academics from local universities Tour Ford Motor Company factory Dinner with Chongqing mayor Wang Hongju
SINGAPORE
Thursday, January 12 Meet with former Singapore Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew NOTE TO PRESS - FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY: Please contact Carol Guthrie at 202-224-4515 or at carol_guthrie@finance-dem.senate.gov to inquire about coverage opportunities.
BANGALORE, INDIA
Friday, January 13 Tour and meetings at the Jack Welch Technology Center Tour and meetings at the Indian Space Research Organization Tour and meetings at Target facility Dinner with the American Chamber of Commerce and Indo-American Chamber of Commerce
Saturday, January 14
Meet with Minister for Industry and Infrastructure, Government of Karnataka Visit and tour Infosys Visit Outreach micro-credit program field office Visit Indian village to interact with micro-credit program beneficiaries
DELHI, INDIA
Sunday, January 15
Lunch with Ambassador Mulford Visit to metro in Old Delhi Visit to “Hole in the Wall" project (Internet kiosks for children in Delhi’s slums)
Dinner with Ambassador Mulford
Monday, January 16
Meet with Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Meet with senior opposition party official Meet with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (TEN)
Meet with Congress Party president Sonia Gandhi (TEN)
1:00 p.m. CII Lunch at Windsor Hall, Hotel le Meridien, Windsor Place -
Senator Baucus to deliver keynote address (NOTE: OPEN TO PRESS)
Meet with Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways Meet with Commerce Minister Meet with students and faculty at Indian Institute of Technology Meet with Foreign Secretary Depart Tuesday, January 17
