Special Report: President Hu Attends G20 London
Summit
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Chinese President Hu Jintao (2nd R) and U.S. President Barack Obama (2nd L) meet in London, Britain, on April 1, 2009. (Xinhua Photo)
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BEIJING, April 4 -- Chinese Vice-Premier Wang Qishan and U.S.
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner met in London on Thursday after the
conclusion of the G20 summit to further confirm the establishment of a
"double-track" Strategic and Economic Dialogue mechanism (SAED) between China
and the US, following up on an announcement made when Chinese President Hu
Jintao met US President Barack Obama on Wednesday, prior to the G20 summit.
The dialogue will "focus on addressing the challenges and opportunities
that both countries face on a wide range of bilateral, regional and global areas
of immediate and long-term strategic interest", a White House statement said
earlier.
The Strategic Dialogue mechanism, also known as "Senior Dialogue", is
presented by the top level to discuss strategic issues such as military,
anti-terrorism and climate change, while the Strategic Economic Dialogue,
initiated in 2006, mainly serves as a bridge in bilateral economic relations and
resolving trade disputes.
Chen Fengying, with the China Institute of Contemporary International
Relations, said the US-China "cooperation could help stop splits forming between
leading and emerging economies".
Meanwhile, China called on the international community to resist
protectionism, warning that new trade barriers may cause current stimulus plans
to fail.
"In order not to hamper the world's confidence (in economic recovery), all
countries should refrain from exercising trade protection measures allowed
within the framework of the WTO," Chen Deming, China's commerce minister, said
at a press conference on Thursday.
He said China fully endorsed the pledge made by leaders at the G20 summit
not to adopt protectionist measures through 2010.
The nations should also safeguard the authority of multilateral trade rules
and support the World Trade Organization's efforts to draw up new trade measures
in order to prevent the spread of protectionism, he said.
China also hopes that all countries actively push forward the Doha round of
trade negotiations.
Chen pledged that China, as a major trading nation, would resist
protectionism and oppose efforts to erect trade barriers.
Since the financial crisis began to spread last October, China has suffered
from rising trade protectionism, affecting $2 billion worth of Chinese exports,
Chen said.
"We have exercised caution in our rescue of some industries, within the
framework of WTO," he said, adding that his ministry is only investigating the
needs of manufacturers of four products.
China "resolutely" opposes countries that started investigations into the
alleged dumping of China-made shoes and iron and steel products.
"We believe in communication and dialogue in resolving trade disputes, but
we cannot rule out going to the WTO to seek resolution," he said.
(Source: China Daily)
Commerce Minister: China opposes
protectionism, supports cooperation to fight crisis
LONDON, April 3 (Xinhua) -- As the curtain dropped on the
G20 London summit, Chinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming on Friday reiterated
China's opposition to protectionism and voiced support for cooperation.
"This summit has yielded a series of positive and
pragmatic results for the international society to jointly tackle the current
financial crisis," Chen said. Full story
Chinese vice premier meets U.S.
treasury secretary
LONDON, April 2 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Wang
Qishan met here with U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner Thursday night,
hours after the G20 financial summit rounded off.
Wang said the successful meeting between Chinese President
Hu Jintao and U.S. President Barack Obama "produced a series of important
consensus" and "charted the path" for the development of China-U.S. relations.
Full story
