U.S. Sen. Christopher "Kit" Bond, R-Mo., told St. Louis area business leaders today that tensions between the United States and China over various issues shouldn't affect the progress of the region's "Big Idea" -- the quest to have China use Lambert airport as a Midwest cargo hub.

"We know there are always strains," said Bond in a brief interview after addressing members of the Regional Chamber and Growth Association at a downtown luncheon.

"We strengthen our economic ties -- that makes it easier."

Bond discounted recent speculation that U.S.-China trade disputes could hurt the "Big Idea's" chances of success.

The biggest hurdles, he said, are maneuvering through the bureaucracy of both countries, and persuading the Chinese airlines that using Lambert will produce buyers of their products, and local sources of goods that can be transported back to China and sold.

Bond encouraged the RCGA to find and encourage local businesses, big and small, that might benefit from trade with China.

Bond was in China in early January as part of the Senate's United States-China Inter-Parliamentary Group, chaired by Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash. The three-senator delegation also included Roland Burris, D-Ill.

Bond said he heard lots of interest in the creation of Midwest China Hub, and Lambert's potential role.

Area business people should understand the quest of the "Big Idea" will take time, he added. Chinese political and business leaders, he said, "move slowly. But they are interested."

The senator, who is retiring after this year, also touched on a variety of other topics.

Among them:

Financial Regulatory Reform -- "We need better 'financial regulation,' but I want to make sure we fix what's wrong, but heaven's sake, do no harm."

Healthcare Reform -- To control the rising costs of health care, for government and the public, Bond called for higher insurance (and Medicare) co-pays and deductibles, that require more payment from the public.

People pay more attention to costs, he said, when they have to fork out more of their own money and "have got to think about it."

Requiring the elderly on Medicare to pay more co-pays and deductibles could make Medicare more financially secure, Bond said, and perhaps prevent the across-the-board program cuts that he opposes.

Toyota's Troubles -- After his address, Bond was being transported to his family home near Mexico, Mo., in a Toyota Prius -- among the vehicles facing a recall because of brake problems. That matter, and the region's worsening weather, promised to make his afternoon travel somewhat eventful, Bond quipped.

Christmas Day Bomber --In his RCGA remarks, Bond didn't mention the ongoing dispute underway between him and the White House over his comments regarding the Christmas Day bomber. But as Bond was taking the mike, his staff in Washington did email out a new response in which the senator reaffirmed that he was not about to apologize.

The Bond news release, which recapped his chief arguments, took aim at White House spokesman Robert Gibbs. The title: "GIBBS SHOULDN’T HOLD HIS BREATH."