LexisNexis(TM) Academic - Document
LexisNexis(TM) Academic - DocumentCopyright 2005 The Financial Times Limited
Financial Times (London, England)
July 29, 2005 Friday
Asia Edition 1
SECTION: THE AMERICAS; Pg. 5
LENGTH: 449 words
HEADLINE: China steps up efforts to calm criticism in US
BYLINE: By GUY DINMORE and SCOTT HEISER
BODY:
China has embarked on a campaign to counter criticism in the US of its growing economic and military power, using the visit of a senior official to Washington to make the case in public for a strategic relationship and employing a US lobbying firm to communicate with Congress.
Addressing a meeting of the US-China Business Council on Wednesday, Tang Jiaxuan, state councillor and former foreign minister, said: "Let us take a long view from a strategic plane when looking at and handling China-US relations."
China would "gradually" address US concerns over the trade deficit and intellectual property rights, and allow it greater access to services, he said.
"All this will mean boundless opportunities for US businesses," he added.
During his visit Mr Tang, a figure in Chinese efforts to curb North Korea's nuclear ambitions, also met Condoleezza Rice, US secretary of state.
Talks focused on trade issues, preparations for a summit in September between presidents George W. Bush and Hu Jintao, and the crisis over North Korea.
Robert Zoellick, deputy secretary of state, will travel to Beijing to inaugurate what China is calling a "strategic dialogue".
The US prefers the term "senior dialogue" in deference to the more elevated "strategic" tag it reserves in Asia for Japan and Australia.
In his address to the business council, Mr Tang reiterated Chinese demands that the US give China full market economy status, lift restrictions on commodity and technology exports "and correct the wrong practices of trade protectionism".
While he made a strong case for how the US and China must develop a strategic relationship in the face of common global threats, US lawmakers were passing a measure that would allow US companies to seek tariffs on unfairly subsidised Chinese imports. The bill had been temporarily blocked by Democrats on Tuesday.
Seeking to build influence in Washington, the Chinese embassy has retained Patton Boggs to lobby Congress.
The recruitment of the firm - which has previously represented such countries as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Pakistan - highlights China's efforts to respond to the wave of anti-Chinese sentiment in Congress.
Beyond trade, the ill-feeling is driven by Chinese threats to Taiwan and its military expansion.
Brian Hale, a spokesman for Patton Boggs, confirmed that the firm would provide counsel to the Chinese embassy on "congressional matters".
The contract, dated July 11, calls for the embassy to pay a Dollars 22,000 (Euros 18,300, Pounds 12,650) monthly retainer.
Robert Kapp, former president of the US-China Business Council, which hosted Mr Tang, said: "The Chinese are learning to walk the walk and talk the talk, and I don't have a problem with it."
LOAD-DATE: July 28, 2005
Financial Times (London, England)
July 29, 2005 Friday
Asia Edition 1
SECTION: THE AMERICAS; Pg. 5
LENGTH: 449 words
HEADLINE: China steps up efforts to calm criticism in US
BYLINE: By GUY DINMORE and SCOTT HEISER
BODY:
China has embarked on a campaign to counter criticism in the US of its growing economic and military power, using the visit of a senior official to Washington to make the case in public for a strategic relationship and employing a US lobbying firm to communicate with Congress.
Addressing a meeting of the US-China Business Council on Wednesday, Tang Jiaxuan, state councillor and former foreign minister, said: "Let us take a long view from a strategic plane when looking at and handling China-US relations."
China would "gradually" address US concerns over the trade deficit and intellectual property rights, and allow it greater access to services, he said.
"All this will mean boundless opportunities for US businesses," he added.
During his visit Mr Tang, a figure in Chinese efforts to curb North Korea's nuclear ambitions, also met Condoleezza Rice, US secretary of state.
Talks focused on trade issues, preparations for a summit in September between presidents George W. Bush and Hu Jintao, and the crisis over North Korea.
Robert Zoellick, deputy secretary of state, will travel to Beijing to inaugurate what China is calling a "strategic dialogue".
The US prefers the term "senior dialogue" in deference to the more elevated "strategic" tag it reserves in Asia for Japan and Australia.
In his address to the business council, Mr Tang reiterated Chinese demands that the US give China full market economy status, lift restrictions on commodity and technology exports "and correct the wrong practices of trade protectionism".
While he made a strong case for how the US and China must develop a strategic relationship in the face of common global threats, US lawmakers were passing a measure that would allow US companies to seek tariffs on unfairly subsidised Chinese imports. The bill had been temporarily blocked by Democrats on Tuesday.
Seeking to build influence in Washington, the Chinese embassy has retained Patton Boggs to lobby Congress.
The recruitment of the firm - which has previously represented such countries as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Pakistan - highlights China's efforts to respond to the wave of anti-Chinese sentiment in Congress.
Beyond trade, the ill-feeling is driven by Chinese threats to Taiwan and its military expansion.
Brian Hale, a spokesman for Patton Boggs, confirmed that the firm would provide counsel to the Chinese embassy on "congressional matters".
The contract, dated July 11, calls for the embassy to pay a Dollars 22,000 (Euros 18,300, Pounds 12,650) monthly retainer.
Robert Kapp, former president of the US-China Business Council, which hosted Mr Tang, said: "The Chinese are learning to walk the walk and talk the talk, and I don't have a problem with it."
LOAD-DATE: July 28, 2005
posted by Eastlaw at 9:38 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home