China deal could mean major growth at Lambert
KSDK
January 20, 2010
A proposed Midwest-China Hub at Lambert will bring much-needed jobs and growth to the St. Louis region according to US Senator Kit Bond.
The senator is involved in high-profile talks with Chinese leadership, working out a deal to make the hub a reality.
Bond was in China last week. He said that while there, he was given reassurances that the project is still a priority for the Chinese.
"For the St. Louis region, I believe the Midwest-China Hub is key to ensuring that jobs will continue to be around for years or decades," said Bond. "With the world economy in a slump, now is exactly the right time to be expanding markets for Midwest products and opening up new opportunities for Missourians."
Bond said that in the short term, there will be a lot of construction at Lambert, which will create jobs. He said that after the construction is finished, there will be more jobs created related to trade and distribution.
Bond said that this could be a good exporting opportunity for Missouri agriculture. He said an American steak costs around $100 in China right now, and that area beef and poultry farmers could ship their products out of the hub so the Chinese could have better access to American meats at a lower price.
Last year, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) chose Senator Bond to serve as the Vice-Chairman of the U.S.-China Inter-Parliamentary Group, which is the Senate's highest level delegation to China. During last week's trip, Bond co-led a trip to China with the delegation's chair, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), and held meetings with top-ranking officials in Beijing and Shanghai where he pressed the Chinese on turning the Midwest China Hub project into a reality.
Bond met with the second highest ranking official in China, Wu Bangguo, Chairman of the National People's Congress, who stressed to the Senator that the Midwest-China Hub is still a priority for the Chinese.
Chairman Wu emphasized to Bond the benefits in trade, economic prosperity, and enhanced cultural ties the Midwest-China Hub will bring both Missouri and China. The deal has been something Bond and other leaders have been working on for years.
