GE hailed as example by China

Wen earlier in the day warned the Bush administration against erecting further trade barriers against Chinese products and urged Washington to instead find ways to increase exports to China as a way to lower its ballooning trade deficit with China.

Wen, visiting New York before heading to Washington for talks with President Bush, sought to defuse trade tensions and defend China's trade policies. He led a delegation of Chinese business executives and trade officials in touring GE's offices in New York. GE is based in Fairfield, Conn.

"In my view, the cooperation between Chinese enterprises and GE is successful," Wen said, adding that he hopes the relationship sets a good example for future partnerships.

Wen cited a recent agreement with GE for aircraft engines. He valued the deal at $3 billion and said it would bring profits and jobs in the US.

GE, which recently opened a technology center in China, has set a goal of achieving $5 billion in sales in China by 2005. The company did about $1.7 billion last year.

GE showed the Chinese delegation about 20 products, including a locomotive it said would be suitable to haul freight in China's high altitudes and what it called the world's most powerful jet engine, which is used on nonstop flights between Hong Kong and New York. GE, which sees opportunities from China's growing tourism and sponsorship of the Olympics, also showed off its entry scan, which detects explosives and drugs at airports.

Wen is on his first US visit since taking office in May.