VZCZCXRO6130
PP RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHBJ #2569 1820815
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 300815Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8335
RULSDMK/DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHDC PRIORITY
INFO RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC

UNCLAS BEIJING 002569 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EEB/TRA DAS JOHN BYERLY 
STATE FOR EAP/CM PETER SECOR/JOY YAMAMOTO 
TRANSPORTATION FOR DAS JOEL SZABAT/DAS SUSAN MCDERMOTT 
TRANSPORTATION FOR X1, X40 
TRANSPORTATION FOR BERNESTINE ALLEN/NICOLE PORTER 
TREASURY FOR DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF TAIYA SMITH 
TREASURY FOR AMBASSADOR ALAN HOLMER 
TREASURY FOR MANAGING DIRECTOR DAN WRIGHT 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EWWT ELTN CH
SUBJECT: VICE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT LETTER TO DOT 
DEPUTY SECRETARY 
 
¶1. (U) On June 30, post received via facsimile 
diplomatic note No. (2008)090 dated June 26 from the 
Department of International Cooperation of the 
Ministry of Transport (MOT) transmitting a letter 
(Note: Courtesy translation provided by MOT. End Note) 
from MOT Vice Minister Weng Mengyong to United States 
Department of Transportation (DOT) Deputy Secretary 
Thomas Barrett.  Post e-mailed a scanned version of 
the letter to DOT on June 30.  The text of the letter 
is below. 
 
Begin text: 
 
June 26, 2008 
 
H.E. Thomas J. Barrett 
Deputy Secretary of Transportation 
The United States of America 
 
Your Excellency, 
 
It was my great pleasure to meet you during the fourth 
U.S.-China Strategic Economic Dialogue held in the 
United States, exchanging views on expanding U.S.- 
China transportation cooperation and signing the Joint 
Declaration on Transportation Cooperation between two 
sides.  Here I would like to thank your Excellency and 
your colleagues for your considerate arrangement and 
warm hospitality during our stay in the United States. 
 
China and U.S. are important trade partners, and 
transportation, maritime transport in particular, 
plays a vital role in making possible the great 
volumes of trade flows.  The Joint Declaration, 
identifying the priorities and direction for our 
future cooperation, will further promote the pragmatic 
transportation cooperation between our two countries. 
 
Your Excellency, I would like to reiterate that the 
Chinese side attaches great importance to 
transportation cooperation with the U.S. and, we are 
willing to work closely with you to launch cooperation 
in areas identified in the Joint Declaration under the 
framework of U.S.-China Strategic Economic Dialogue, 
aiming at pushing forward the efficient, safe and 
sustainable development of transportation. 
 
Once again thank your Excellency for your hospitality 
extended to us and I am looking forward to meeting you 
in the near future. 
 
Please accept, your Excellency, the assurances of my 
highest consideration. 
 
(Weng Mengyong) 
Vice Minister of Transport 
The People's Republic of China 
 
End text. 
 
RANDT