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a Transit rolled off the assembly line at a plant in Nanchang, southern China, as officials from Ford and Jiangling Motors Corporation looked on. The vehicles are the first Ford has built in China. The U-S and China are increasing economic ties yearly - one example is the new alliance between motor giant Ford and a Chinese automobile company J-M-C. Together they've constructed a durable 12 seater van - a nod both to China's vast population and also to its miles of unsurfaced roads. Ford says it's the beginning of a new era between the two countries. SOUNDBITE: Cooperation has enabled Ford and J-M-C to create the first Chinese vehicle jointly developed by a Chinese and a Western company. SUPER CAPTION: Alex Trotman, C-E-O Ford Motor Company Ford recognises that in order to continue to prosper it must look to new markets and that means Asia. SOUNDBITE: Our major markets in the last 30 or 40 years have been in Europe and North America. We need for the next century to grow our presence dramatically in the Asian region. We need to grow it in China and other countries in the Asian region. This is another step in that commitment. It's a small step but we plan to grow substantially over the coming decades. SUPER CAPTION: Alex Trotman, C-E-O Ford Motor Company Ford and J-M-C expect the Nanchang plant to turn out 60-thousand vehicles a year. More than 50 percent of the parts will be made in China, with plans to increase that proportion to 90 percent. Initially, the vans will come in 12- and nine-seat models, with plans to launch a 15-seater next year. Ford teamed up with J-M-C in 1995 when the U-S auto giant bought 20 percent of J-M-C's "B" shares, which are reserved for foreign investors. J-M-C is listed on the stock market in Shenzhen, south china. Both the U-S and Chinese contingents must hope that their new venture doesn't have too much of a bumpy ride. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives ​​ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/fd3dba1566b6d25a5d37a97b7abc7fd3