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U.S., China Agree To Expanded Cooperation

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Los Angeles Times

Published: February 22, 2009

BEIJING - Chinese officials and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton agreed Saturday to step up their cooperation on the global economic crisis and climate change, while treading carefully around the human rights issues that often have strained the U.S. relationship with Beijing.

In the final day of Clinton's inaugural trip to Asia, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said his government had agreed in principle to Clinton's proposal to add discussions of environmental and security issues to the high-level economic talks that dominate the official relationship.

Clinton has been eager to expand discussions between the two countries, contending that cooperation with the Asian giant is key to easing many world problems, including security challenges from North Korea and Iran.

Yang and Clinton announced that the two countries have agreed to divide their discussions into a "strategic" track, which will include political and environmental questions, and an economic track.

The two countries' relationship has been built around a "strategic economic dialogue" between top Chinese officials and former U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson. Under Clinton's plan, she and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner would be closely involved in talks.

Yang made no commitment on how China, the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases, would be willing to deal with climate change.

Clinton said that promotion of human rights "is an essential aspect of our global foreign policy," and said she had brought up the subject with Yang, as U.S. officials do regularly with the Chinese government.

Yang said China would continue to discuss human rights issues with the Americans but noted that in Beijing's view, such talks had to be based on "equality and mutual respect," as well as the principle of "noninterference" in other countries' affairs.

Activists, however, objected bitterly Saturday to their treatment during Clinton's visit. Dissidents were placed under house arrest and trailed by police to prevent them from getting anywhere near the secretary of state.

Other activists were told they could leave home only if they were escorted by police and that they could not meet with U.S. officials, Chinese Human Rights Defenders said.

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