China says fake Christmas trees help US environment

BEJIING, Mar 7 (Reuters) Fake Christmas trees made in China help protect the environment of the United States, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said today, listing the benefits of trade between the two countries.

''You may know that many American households celebrate Christmas with artificial Christmas trees manufactured in China and this benefits environmental and ecological protection in the United States,'' Li told a news conference.

Li also said trade with China helped create jobs, benefited consumers and helped relieve inflationary pressures in the United States.

The US trade deficit with China -- a perennial point of friction in the relationship -- rose to a record 202 billion dollars last year.

China's own environmental problems, including deforestation, have ballooned along side the economic boom of the past two and a half decades.

REUTERS SY BS1457