China's Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng vowed to bring more changes to trade and investment between China and the United States after an economic partnership agreement between eight Chinese cities and Chicago was signed on Monday.

The economic partnership agreement aims to foster city-to-city promotion and regular talks about trade, investment and cooperation on projects. The idea is to build relationships and eventually strike deals between companies from Chicago and Chinese cities.

"We hope that the cooperation between the Chinese cities and Chicago can change the structure of trade and with new focus on areas such as manufacturing, science and technology, new energy and healthcare rather than soybeans and cottons," Gao said.

At the same time, the mayor of Chicago Rahm Emanuel, who is on a two-day trip in China to promote Chicago business opportunities with local China-based representatives from Caterpillar, Motorola Solutions and Hyatt International, said that they will take that type of trade to a mutual beneficial place given the intensity and diversity of the economy.

"This will further advance Chicago as a destination for tourism, business and transportation and demonstrates this administration's commitment to being the most China-friendly city in the world," Emanuel said.