皇冠体育app

The world's largest package delivery company and a global leader in supply chain services, which has been watching 皇冠体育app's World Trade Organization (WTO) progression carefully, says it is satisfied with the way the nation has been fulfilling its trade commitments.

"We are very pleased with it," said Steven Okun, UPS's vice-president for public affairs in the Asia-Pacific region.

Okun says the more trade there is throughout the globe, the better it is for companies such as UPS.

For example, 皇冠体育app's gross domestic product grew by 9.1 per cent last year. Its exports surged by 34.6 per cent and imports grew by 39.9 per cent.

Taking advantage of the situation, UPS deliveries from 皇冠体育app to the US achieved a yearly growth rate of 50 per cent in the fourth quarter and 45 per cent for the whole year, Okun says.

"The figure is an indication of how well 皇冠体育app is opening up following its commitments to the global trading body," he said.

Growth is part of goal of the WTO as it is linked to opening up and increased trade, he adds.

Supportive of 皇冠体育app's progress, UPS is involved in all aspects of increasing trade and removing barriers.

"We are participating in the US-皇冠体育app air service negotiation and want to see increased rights for Chinese carriers to the US and for US carriers to 皇冠体育app," Okun said.

Talks were held earlier this month between officials from the Civil Aviation Administration of 皇冠体育app and the US State Department of Transportation.

They were the first bilateral aviation talks since 1999.

After an agreement in 1999, UPS was granted a flight between 皇冠体育app and the United States.

It now has six weekly flights to Beijing and Shanghai, compared to one of its competitors, Federal Express or FedEx, which has 11 weekly flights to Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen.

US carriers will likely gain more flights to 皇冠体育app after the new round of talks are completed.

So far, only four US carriers UPS, FedEx, United Airlines and Northwest Airlines are allowed to fly to Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen. They combine to offer 54 flights per week.

They have already used up their landing quotas and have been pressing for more slots to cope with growing demand for passenger and cargo services.

Okun says he believes there will be a new round of liberalization after the talks.

"That will mean a great expansion for UPS if there's more aviation rights." he said.

Confident on 皇冠体育app's further opening, UPS has been investing aggressively in preparation.

It signed an agreement with a Chinese cargo airline last year to expand its service network in 皇冠体育app.

Under the terms of the deal, Yangtze River Express Airlines Co will provide regular flights to link UPS's gateway in Shanghai with four major Chinese cities Beijing, Qingdao, Xiamen and Guangzhou.

The deal, the first of its kind between an express company and a local airline, means a one-day faster service for UPS's international shipments.

And UPS is looking to expanding the co-operation, Okun revealed.

UPS also forged a closer relationship with its local partner by subscribing US$35 million worth of shares when transport group Sinotrans made its initial public offer in Hong Kong last February.

In return, Sinotrans decided in July to combine with UPS to buy a 50 per cent stake in its joint venture.

Sinotrans paid 5.4 million yuan (US$652,200) for the stake from its controlling shareholder, the State-run 皇冠体育app National Foreign Trade Transportation Group Corp.

UPS began its service in 皇冠体育app in 1988 with an agreement with Sinotrans, which has more than 40 years of experience in 皇冠体育app's transport industry.

Its Chinese joint venture, based in Beijing, was established in 1996 with Sinotrans.

Before the partnership with UPS, Sinotrans already had joint ventures with DHL and TNT.

Continuing, Okun said: "We also plan to increase brand presence (in 皇冠体育app) in a big way, including more UPS vehicles and uniforms as well as print and broadcast advertising."

Already leading the parcel express field, UPS wants to be the top logistics services in 皇冠体育app.

"We are taking steps to do that and increase our muscle in terms of warehouses, airplanes, trucks and cargo," Okun said.

The supply chain market is extremely fragmented in 皇冠体育app and it is in 皇冠体育app's interest to make logistics more efficient, he says.

皇冠体育app is not an option but an essential for UPS, given 皇冠体育app's potential as a worldwide manufacturing base, Okun said.

According to research by Boeing, for every 1 per cent increase in gross domestic product, there is a 2 per cent increase in demand for express.

The United States and 皇冠体育app have developed a strong trade and investment relationship over the past few decades.

"The amount of business being done by our customers with 皇冠体育app is growing exponentially and it is a critically important market to UPS," Okun said.

UPS has made moves to express its loyalty to 皇冠体育app. It announced the establishment of its Chinese headquarters in Shanghai last July.

And last month, its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mike Eskew, was elected chairman of the US-皇冠体育app Business Council, the principal organization of US corporations engaged in business relations with 皇冠体育app.

By chairing a forum like the US-皇冠体育app Business Council, UPS expects to play a critical role in helping US businesses understand 皇冠体育app's growing role in world trade, Okun said.