国际英语新闻：Obama details efforts to double U.S. exports over next five years

WASHINGTON, March 11 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama Thursday unveiled his efforts to double U.S. exports over the next five years, saying such a goal was critical to create jobs.

BOOSTING TRADE CRITICAL FOR PROSPERITY

"In a time when millions of Americans are out of work, boosting our exports is a short-term imperative," said Obama in a speech at the Export-Import Bank's annual conference.

"In 2008, we exported more than one trillion dollars of manufactured goods, supporting more than one in five manufacturing jobs jobs that pay about 15 percent more than average," he added.

He stressed that boosting the trade is also critical for the U. S. long-term prosperity.

"Ninety-five percent of the world's customers and the world's fastest-growing markets are outside our borders. We need to compete for those customers. Because other nations are," said the U.S. president.

He warned that other countries are investing in the skills and education of their people, in the high-demand industries of the future.

"They've benefited from American consumers, made themselves into export-based economies, and positioned themselves for those jobs," said Obama.

Moreover, these countries are pursuing trade agreements with growing markets agreements that would give their companies access to those markets and put our workers and businesses at a disadvantage, said the president.

"If we stand on the sidelines while they go after those customers, we'll lose out on the chance to create the good jobs our workers need right here in America," he said.

"When other markets are growing, and other nations are competing, we need to get even better. We need to secure our companies a level playing field. We need to guarantee American workers a fair shake. We need to up our game," Obama vowed.

EXECUTIVE ORDER SIGNED TO CREATE EXPORT PROMOTION CABINET "The United States of America is launching a single, comprehensive strategy to promote American exports. It's called the National Export Initiative," said Obama in the speech.

"And it's an ambitious effort to marshal the full resources of the United States government behind American businesses that sell their goods and services abroad," he added.

Earlier Thursday, Obama signed an executive order creating an Export Promotion Cabinet.

The cabinet was made up of the Secretaries of State, Treasury, Agriculture, Commerce and Labor, along with our U.S. Trade Representative, Small Business Administrator, the Export-Import Bank President, and other senior U.S. officials whose work impacts exports.

"That cabinet will convene its first meeting next month," said Obama. "I've also re-launched the President's Export Council; the principal national advisory committee on international trade."

Obama said he will name two top executives from Boeing and Xerox to lead the President's Export Council.

"I've named Jim McNerney, the President and CEO of Boeing, as its chair; and Ursula Burns, the CEO of Xerox, as vice chair; and I look forward to their recommendations," said the U.S. president.

ASIA PACIFIC FUNDAMENTAL TO U.S. JOB CREATION

During the speech, Obama also pointed out that the Asia Pacific will be fundamental to America's ability to create jobs and to thrive in the 21st century.

"We cannot be on the sidelines we have to lead, and our engagement must extend to governments, business, and peoples across the Pacific," said Obama in a speech at the Export-Import Bank's annual conference, adding he will visit Indonesia and Australia next week.

"In both countries, I will highlight the role that American business plays there, and underscore how strong economic partnerships can create jobs on both sides of the Pacific while advancing regional and global prosperity," said the U.S. president.

During the speech, he reaffirmed a goal of doubling America's exports over the next five years, an increase that will support two million American jobs.

NEW CALL ISSUED TO PRESS CHINA ON RENMINBI APPRECIATION

Meanwhile, Obama also pressed China to embrace the so-called " market oriented" exchange rate for its yuan currency.

"Countries with external surpluses need to boost consumption and domestic demand," said Obama in the speech. " And as I've said before, China moving to a more market-oriented exchange rate would make an essential contribution to that global rebalancing effort."

China has repeatedly said that it will keep the exchange rate of the renminbi, or the country's currency yuan, basically stable at a reasonable and balanced level.

China opposes politicizing monetary issues, said China's Central Bank Governor Zhou Xiaochuan last week on the sidelines of the annual session of the China's National People's Congress (NPC).