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| Chinese President Hu Jintao meets with visiting
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at the Great Hall of the
People in Beijing July 10, 2005. Rice is on a two-day visit to
Beijing on a tour of four East Asian capitals to discuss ways to
push ahead with negotiations on North Korean nuclear issues.
(newsphoto) |
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice left Beijing calling US-Sino
relations positive and reiterating Washington's view that China is not a
threat.
Despite rows over Chinese textile exports, the surging US trade deficit
with China and the Chinese currency's inflexibility, Rice, who is on a
four-nation Asian tour that takes her next to Thailand, said relations
were "complex" but good.
"There are many extremely positive elements. I still think that this
relationship has a great momentum. It still has more positives than
negatives," Rice told a news briefing after meeting Chinese leaders.
At the same time, Rice said she raised concerns over China's
military development. "(But) this does not mean that we view China as a
threat,' she said Sunday.
Still, tensions with Taiwan remain a worry, Rice said, urging Beijing
to reach out to the Taiwan authorities.
In response, Chinese President Hu Jintao told Rice
Beijing was determined to improve cross-strait relations, but also urged
Washington to remain vigilant for "secessionist
" forces pushing for independence, the
Xinhua news agency reported.
The effects of Asia's largest economy were also high on the talks
agenda, with US lawmakers and businesses stepping up pressure on China
recently over the trade deficit and its pegged currency, which the US
blames for giving China an unfair trade advantage and contributing to the
loss of US jobs.
The aggressive bid by Chinese oil giant China National Offshore Oil
Corp. (CNOOC) for California-based Unocal has sparked further US worries
of China's growing economic clout.
"A growing Chinese economy is a good thing. (But) it needs to do so
within the context of rules," Rice said Sunday.
"The rules-based WTO framework into which China has entered is the only
way to assure that an economy of this size has a good effect on the
international economy as a whole."
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said the two countries should strictly abide
by World Trade Organization regulations and resolve problems relating to
trade and the economy through dialogue and friendly consultation.
Rice said the US welcomes a strong Chinese economy and believes China's
economic development will benefit global economic growth.
She said she emphasized, particularly to Premier Wen Jiabao, the
importance of safeguarding intellectual property rights.
Yet while the Chinese economy is transitioning in ways "that are
sometimes problematic" for the American economy, Rice said trade ties are
still "very healthy, robust and active".
China's cooperation in fighting terrorism and in helping to convince
North Korea to return to multilateral nuclear crisis talks later this
month further boosted bilateral ties, Rice said.
"The relationship between China and the United States is a complex
one. Our goal is to see the rise of a China that is a positive force in
international politics," she said.
President Hu said China highly valued its relations with the United
States, adding that "China is ready to work along with the United States
to strengthen dialogue, mutual trust and cooperation, respect and care for
each other's concerns, in an effort to make the bilateral relations
achieve greater progress," Xinhua reported.
Rice's visit to China is her second in three months. As well as
Thailand, she will also make stops in Japan and South Korea.
(Agencies) | 
Updated: 2005-07-11 14:25
