除旧金山外，代表团还计划访问亚特兰大、芝加哥和首都华盛顿等城市，与美方谈判多项总值超过160亿美元的合作协议，以示中方帮助美国减少贸易逆差的诚意。

    SAN FRANCISCO, California (AP) -- A delegation of Chinese business leaders on Wednesday committed ( v. 提交, 答应负责) to buying $4.3 billion in U.S. technology, hoping to soften a political backlash (n. 后座, 后冲) to the massive trade imbalance dividing two of the world's economic powers.

    The agreements were trumpeted at a ceremony staged two weeks before the scheduled start of government talks in Washington, where leaders will try to tackle the United States' $232 billion trade deficit with China and other prickly issues.

    California Lt. Gov. John Garamendi hailed (v. 招呼、致敬) 27 contracts signed Wednesday as an "important step in furthering the deep relationship between this state, this country and China."

    But the event's timing spurred immediate skepticism (n. 怀疑论) about the sincerity of China's efforts to narrow a trade gap that has tormented the United States for years.

    "They are not going to change their ways. This is all part of a political smoke screen," said Peter Morici, a business professor at the University of Maryland and the former chief economist for the U.S. International Trade Commission.

    To underscore China's resolve to explore more U.S. investments, executives from more than 200 Chinese companies are meeting with their U.S. counterparts in 24 cities scattered across 23 states, said Ma Xiuhong, vice minister of China's Ministry of Commerce.

    In its first stop, just north of Silicon Valley's high-tech heartland, the Chinese coalition primarily sealed deals with computer software, semiconductor and telecommunications companies. The U.S. beneficiaries included several of the world's largest technology companies, including Microsoft, Oracle, Cisco Systems and Hewlett-Packard.