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April 2, 2010

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China-US ties on mend: Hu's off to Washington

CHINA announced yesterday that President Hu Jintao would attend a summit on nuclear security in the United States this month, signaling an easing of strained relations between the countries.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said Hu would stop in Washington DC for the April 12-13 summit on his way to Brazil, Venezuela and Chile.

China-US relations have gone through difficulties since the US announcement of arms sales to Taiwan and President Barack Obama's meeting with the Dalai Lama.

"China attaches importance to nuclear security, opposes nuclear proliferation and nuclear terrorism, and supports international cooperation," Qin said at a regular press briefing in Beijing.

"The nuclear security summit will mainly discuss the threat posed by nuclear terrorism and the corresponding measures of countries and the international community."

Qin said China hoped the important meeting would "yield positive results."

Leaders and representatives from more than 40 countries and international organizations, such as the European Union and the International Atomic Energy Agency, will attend the summit.

Qin did not say whether Hu would meet Obama one-on-one during his visit. The spokesman said the US and China shared a key diplomatic relationship and that maintaining healthy ties depended on "respecting each other."

China reacted furiously to the US decision this year to sell US$6.4 billion in military hardware to Taiwan, and suspended military exchanges.

The arms sale came before Obama had a meeting with the Dalai Lama.

The countries have also tangled this year over trade disputes and a high-profile disagreement over the value of the yuan.

Zhu Feng, a professor with School of International Studies at Peking University, told the Associated Press that Hu's visit showed the countries were getting past their disagreements to focus on the issues at hand.

"After having a period of tense and unpleasant experience in Sino-US ties, now both sides prefer to calm down to get the relations back to a pragmatic track," he said.

Hu will visit South America from April 14-18. His stop in Brazil will include a meeting with leaders of Brazil, Russia and India.

The four major emerging economies are seeking a greater say in the world economy, including a bigger role in global financial institutions.

The talks of the BRIC nations will "help to enhance the overall voice and influence of burgeoning markets in developing countries," Qin said.



 

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