Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE: ADM) this week joined with
business leaders and policymakers from the U.S. and China to support and
strengthen ties between the two countries at the first-ever Chicago
meeting of the U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade.
“Today, the relationship between the U.S. and China is at an important
inflection point,” said Lorraine Hawley, ADM’s director, international
government relations. Hawley was speaking at a panel discussion that was
hosted by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, and which included
Chinese Vice Minister of Agriculture Niu Dun. “Our complementary
interests regarding agriculture are already serving as a basis for
cooperation and collaboration,” Hawley continued. “We believe
agriculture can be the foundation for a stronger overall relationship in
years to come. Working together, we have an opportunity to form an
aligned approach to agriculture—strengthening the overall U.S.-China
relationship, while addressing each nation’s specific interests and
goals.”
Emphasizing the company’s continued and growing business in China, ADM
also participated in a public ceremony during which it signed agreements
with three Chinese soybean customers: Wilmar International Limited,
Sinograin, and Yuntianhua Group. Said Wesley Uhlmeyer, ADM’s vice
president, export trading: “China is a critical and growing market for
us, and we are committed to continuing to expand our business to serve
Chinese customers.”
ADM Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Ray Young, who
attended the JCCT Commencement Dinner, confirmed afterwards the strength
of ADM’s commitment to China: “ADM has been working to help meet China’s
food needs for more than a quarter of a century. Just last month, we
opened the sweetener-manufacturing portion of our integrated food
manufacturing complex at the port of Tianjin. Next year, that complex
will add the ability to produce soluble fiber, which is used to add
dietary fiber to a wide range of food and beverage products. We are
continuing to expand our capabilities to serve food and beverage
customers as they respond to increasing demand in China for food
products of greater variety, nutrition and convenience.”
About the JCCT
Established in 1983, the JCCT is the primary forum for addressing
bilateral trade and investment issues and promoting commercial
opportunities between the United States and China. High-level plenary
meetings are held annually and are co-chaired by the U.S. Secretary of
Commerce, the United States Trade Representative, and the Chinese Vice
Premier in charge of trade and investment issues. Sixteen JCCT Working
Groups meet throughout the year to address topics such as intellectual
property rights, agriculture, pharmaceuticals and medical devices,
information technology, and travel and tourism.
About ADM
For more than a century, the people of Archer Daniels Midland Company
(NYSE: ADM) have transformed crops into products that serve the vital
needs of a growing world. Today, we’re one of the world’s largest
agricultural processors and food ingredient providers, with more than
33,000 employees serving customers in more than 140 countries. With a
global value chain that includes more than 470 crop procurement
locations, 285 ingredient manufacturing facilities, 40 innovation
centers and the world’s premier crop transportation network, we connect
the harvest to the home, making products for food, animal feed, chemical
and energy uses. Learn more at www.adm.com.
Copyright Business Wire 2014