OnDecember 10, 2003,visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met with Massachusetts State Governor Mitt Romney and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino.

The Premier said thatMassachusettsState, which shares a long history of friendship withChina, has a relatively large number of Chinese students and is one of theUSregions which had the earliest trade links withChina. He expressed the hope that as the China-US relations of constructive cooperation are continuously forging ahead,BostonandMassachusettsas a whole will play a more vital role in increasing contacts, friendship and cooperation between the Chinese and American peoples.

Both Romney and Menino agreed that trade and economic contacts betweenMassachusettsandChinahave brought much tangible benefits to the people in theUSstate, including job opportunities brought toBoston's Conley Container Terminal byChina Ocean Shipping (Group) Company (COSCO). They hoped thatMassachusettsandBostonandChinawill expand their cooperation in the future.

Later in the afternoon, Premier visited the Conley Container Terminal inBostonand theRichardson's family farm that is famous for its milk products.

Before evening, Premier concluded his visit toAmericaand leftBostonforCanada, the second station of his four-country tour. During his stay inAmerica, Premier had visitedNew York,WashingtonandBoston, held talks with Bush and other American leaders, delivered three speeches and had a wide contact with people in the fields of industry, commerce, agriculture and education.