Asia-Pacific
Key dialogue to help US, China ties thaw: Experts
By Cai Xiao and Hu Haiyan (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-03-24 07:55
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BEIJING - A high-level strategic dialogue between Beijing and Washington in May is expected to prod both sides to shake hands again despite recent setbacks over trade and the latest Google fiasco, experts said on Tuesday.
The comments followed the foreign ministry's announcement Tuesday that Vice-Premier Wang Qishan and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton would co-chair the China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue in the capital.
Whether the United States continues to paint China as a currency manipulator in April is, however, crucial in determining the success of the dialogue, said Shi Yinhong, an expert on American studies at the Renmin University.
"The US must stop using the same old excuse - the exchange rate - to pressurize China," Shi said.
Last week, more than 100 US legislators urged the Obama administration to label China as a currency manipulator, which would have helped the US government impose further duties on Chinese imports.
The legislators believe China has intentionally weakened the yuan to gain an "unfair" advantage in trade, which they say has resulted in mounting job losses in the US.
Niu Xinchun, an expert at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, said he was optimistic about the outcome of the strategic dialogue.
"Through seeking common ground and putting aside differences, and consulting with each other frankly and with an open mind, the dialogue can result in significant progress," he said.
Premier Wen Jiabao told foreign business executives in Beijing on Monday that his government did not want to "wage trade and currency wars". Wen said the strategic dialogue would be an important forum to address irritants in the relationship between the two powers.
US Trade Representative Ron Kirk also said recently that the dialogue was an opportunity to address issues between China and the US.
The strategic dialogue was initiated in 2006 so that both sides could discuss topics related to economic relations. The forum was initially called the Strategic Economic Dialogue.
