[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 16 (Wednesday, February 3, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E145]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING THE SERVICE OF HIS EXCELLENCY ZHOU WENZHONG, AMBASSADOR 
EXTRAORDINARY AND PLENIPOTENTIARY OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA TO 
                           THE UNITED STATES

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. ENI F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA

                           of american samoa

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 3, 2010

  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the service of 
my good friend, His Excellency Zhou Wenzhong, Ambassador Extraordinary 
and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the United 
States. Ambassador Zhou is completing his term as Ambassador to the 
United States after more than five years of service.
  During his long and distinguished career working for China's Ministry 
of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Zhou has been deeply involved in 
building United States-China relations serving as Attache and then 
Third Secretary of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China to the 
United States from 1978 to 1983, Deputy Consul General in San Francisco 
from 1987 to 1990, Deputy Director General of the Department of North 
American and Oceanian Affairs from 1993 to 1994, Consul General in Los 
Angeles from 1994 to 1995, Minister of the Embassy of the People's 
Republic of China to the United States from 1995 to 1998, Assistant 
Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2001 to 2003, Vice Minister of Foreign 
Affairs from 2003 to 2005 and, most recently, Ambassador Extraordinary 
and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic to the United States from 
2005 to 2010.
  Ambassador Zhou has effectively represented his country with honor by 
ensuring constructive cooperation and effective communication between 
United States and Chinese leaders through many initiatives including 
the establishment of new senior-level political dialogues such as the 
United States-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue.
  Ambassador Zhou has also been a strong advocate for deeper United 
States-China economic relations, helping Chinese companies to increase 
their investments in the United States and demonstrating to Americans 
the opportunities presented by markets in China. Ambassador Zhou has 
personally visited nearly every state in the United States to meet with 
American businesses and workers to promote bilateral economic 
relations.
  Through frequent and productive communications with the United States 
Congress and by strengthening the United States-China 
Interparliamentary Exchange, Ambassador Zhou has helped foster mutual 
understanding and respect between the two governments.
  Ambassador Zhou has also helped to inform America's understanding of 
China by overseeing numerous educational and cultural events during his 
time as Ambassador and, during his tenure, there has been a dramatic 
increase in people-to-people exchanges as more United States citizens 
travel to China and more Chinese citizens visit the United States.
  For these and many other reasons, I pay special tribute to Ambassador 
Zhou and commend him for his leadership and tireless efforts in 
promoting goodwill between our governments and people. I offer 
Ambassador Zhou and his dear wife, Madame Xie, my sincere best wishes 
as they return to their home in China. They will be greatly missed.

                          ____________________