We certainly intend to capitalize on these opportunities. Today, more and more American companies are looking beyond the mature markets of North America and Western Europe for growth and expansion. It's clear that much of our future growth will come in the less-mature markets of Eastern Europe, Latin America and Asia, particularly China. So that's where some of the most exciting growth opportunities are. In Asia alone, there are more than 3 billion people under the age of 25.
China is already the world s biggest economy.
And a whole new generation of middle-class consumers is being created and it's growing rapidly. The opportunities for U.S.-based international companies are enormous. I m talking about business opportunities, of course. But I m also talking about the opportunity to create jobs, enhance political stability, bolster local economies and improve the quality of life for people in developing countries. American companies can have tremendous influence over how people live, work and treat each other around the world.