Chicago-based law firm giant Katten Muchin Rosenman's new office in Shanghai will help boost China-U.S. ties, former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley has said.

At an opening reception here Wednesday night, Daley said closer business ties are crucial for deepening relations with China.

"It's all about people to people. Governments are always going to have disagreements, but people are not, businesses are not," said Daley, who is now working at Katten after serving as Chicago mayor for 22 years.

"When an American company builds something there or when they build something here, it helps everyone," he said.

Chinese Consul General in Chicago Yang Guoqiang also attended the opening event, saying that launching new offices in China will help U.S. companies enhance communication and cooperation with their Chinese clients.

He and Daley agreed that better financial ties can in turn forge stronger, broader China-U.S. ties.

The U.S. law firm's Shanghai office will provide legal services to manufacturing companies that have a high presence in China and in the U.S. Midwest, Feng Xue, managing partner of Katten's Shanghai office, told Xinhua.

The Shanghai office is also expected to attract new Chinese clients and help them do business comfortably with the United States, he said.