Chinese Vice-Premier Wang Qishan, right, tries to shake hands with US Secretary of Treasury Timothy Geithner as US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton makes her way between them during the start of the second round of the US-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue yesterday. (AFP)

US presses China on North Korea

The United States pressed China yesterday for joint action against North Korea, at the start of high-level talks aimed at putting an end to months of discord, notably over currency and trade.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner are leading a huge delegation to the Strategic and Economic Dialogue – two days of discussions that come at a sensitive time in Sino-US ties.

The two countries are looking to move forward on a number of issues including the value of the yuan – with the US hoping for some kind of Chinese pledge to let it appreciate – lingering trade spats and internet freedom.

In a sign of the importance Washington has given to the meeting between the world's number one and three economies, about 200 officials have come to Beijing – a number which Clinton said she believed was unprecedented. "Our economies have become increasingly inseparable," Chinese Vice-Premier Wang Qishan, who is leading Beijing's delegation along with State Councillor Dai Bingguo, said at the opening ceremony in the Great Hall of the People.

Clinton said: "We will not agree on every issue but we will discuss them openly," as she cited human rights concerns.

 

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