May 12, 2008 – U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Michael O. Leavitt today began his third visit to the People's Republic of China with activities in the eastern coastal city of Shanghai. The Secretary shared his vision for improving the safety of consumer products with more than 800 vendors, suppliers and executives of the Target Corporation, and he answered questions from the group.
Later in the day, the Secretary visited the Waigaoqiao Section of the Port of Shanghai, where he received a detailed briefing on the facility's operations from the Shanghai Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau (CIQ), part of the Chinese General Administration for Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ). CIQ/AQSIQ officials brought the Secretary to a loading dock and an inspection laboratory, where he observed them as they examined goods processed through the port. The Secretary will continue his visit to Shanghai with a meeting with Chinese Minister of Health Chen Zhu, M.D.; an afternoon at the Shanghai Shuguang Hospital and the Shanghai Traditional Medicine University; and a roundtable with members of the United States-China Business Council and the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai. Later the week, the Secretary will be in Beijing for further discussions with Chinese Government officials.
