Fiscal deadlock will be resolved, Kerry tells Li

Premier Li Keqiang has been assured by US Secretary of State John Kerry that the United States is committed to resolving its fiscal impasse.

The assurance came after Li raised the issue in a meeting on the sidelines of the 16th leaders' meeting between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Brunei, a senior US State Department official said on Thursday.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Kerry made clear that the US government shutdown and friction over the nation's budget "is a moment in Washington politics and reaffirmed the president's commitment to resolving the issue".

The official said the debt issue was "briefly referenced" during the meeting.

Li said China stands ready to strengthen strategic communication and coordination with the US, and jointly promote the steady growth of the world economy and safeguard global peace.

The premier noted that the heads of state of the two countries have reached important consensus on building a new model of major-country relations, which is conducive to pushing forward healthy and stable development of bilateral relations.

China and the US share broad common interests, and their economies are complementary to a large extent, he said, while expressing Beijing's concern about Washington's debt-ceiling problem.

Li said China hopes to see the US relax its restrictions on China-bound high-tech exports.

Kerry said the US welcomes the rise of China and regards the country as an important cooperation partner.

He also said that US President Barack Obama pays great attention to boosting bilateral relations.

Kerry said the US is willing to increase strategic communication and cooperation with China, jointly cope with challenges, and constantly enrich the content of the new model of major-country relations between the two nations.

China is the biggest holder of US debt and some Chinese officials have raised concerns over a drawn-out crisis in Washington. According to data from the US Treasury, Beijing holds $1.28 trillion of Treasury debt. It also has additional US agency debt.

"They (Li and Kerry) also agreed that the US has one of the strongest economies in the world and that they have a shared interest in continuing the close economic working relationship," the unnamed US official added.

Reuters-Xinhua

(China Daily 10/11/2013 page11)