The Wider Environment
Before Hu goes...
20/03/2006 19:49:50
In the run-up to president Hu Jintao’s visit to the in April, officials and politicians from both sides are engaged in crucial rounds of preliminary talks. At issue: business, currency reform and relations between two of the worlds biggest trading partners:
US Senators and senior Bush administration officials head to China this week, kicking off a decisive period in bilateral economic relations leading up to President Hu Jintao's visit to Washington next month.
"These are momentous times for trade relations between America and China," Sen. Charles Schumer, a New York Democrat, said at joint news conference with Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, ahead of their trip to pressure Beijing to revalue its yuan currency at a higher exchange rate to the dollar.
And perhaps most vital of all: energy security:
’s government has said it is willing to work with the on future oil, gas and renewable energy projects, as well as on global energy security issues.
“In the field of energy, and the are not competitors,” Qin Gang, foreign ministry spokesperson, said during a press briefing. “ stands ready to co-operate with the and other countries … on the basis of equality and mutual benefit.”
Mr Qin was responding to comments earlier this week by Dick Lugar, the influential Senator, who said it was crucial for