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Clinton urges stronger China ties Clinton urges stronger China ties
(about 2 hours later)
Hillary Clinton has called for a deeper US-China partnership, on her first overseas tour as US secretary of state.Hillary Clinton has called for a deeper US-China partnership, on her first overseas tour as US secretary of state.
Co-operation between the US and China on global issues such as the economy and climate change was "imperative", said Mrs Clinton in Beijing.Co-operation between the US and China on global issues such as the economy and climate change was "imperative", said Mrs Clinton in Beijing.
"We want to deepen and broaden our relationship," she said during talks with her Chinese counterpart, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi. She said that these would take precedence over points of friction between the two governments, such as human rights and Tibet.
Her Asian tour has included stops in Japan, Indonesia and South Korea.Her Asian tour has included stops in Japan, Indonesia and South Korea.
Mrs Clinton was due to meet President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao later on Saturday for wide-ranging talks on the global economy, climate change and North Korea.Mrs Clinton was due to meet President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao later on Saturday for wide-ranging talks on the global economy, climate change and North Korea.
Major challenges "We want to deepen and broaden our relationship," she said at a news conference with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi. Mrs Clinton and Yang Jiechi held two hours of talks
"We believe we have established a solid foundation, but there is much work to be done," Mrs Clinton said, as she and Mr Yang made introductory remarks in front of the media.Mrs Clinton called for deeper and broader US-Chinese ties "We believe we have established a solid foundation, but there is much work to be done.
"It is in our view imperative that the United States and China co-operate on a range of issues from the economy to global climate change to development and so much else.""It is in our view imperative that the United States and China co-operate on a range of issues from the economy to global climate change to development and so much else."
Mr Yang said the two nations were facing "a series of major and pressing" challenges.Mr Yang said the two nations were facing "a series of major and pressing" challenges.
"The larger situation requires our two countries to strengthen dialogue... and work together to elevate our relationship to a new level," he added."The larger situation requires our two countries to strengthen dialogue... and work together to elevate our relationship to a new level," he added.
The two held talks lasting almost two hours.The two held talks lasting almost two hours.
Afterwards, Mr Yang said the discussions had been constructive and produced positive results, with both countries agreeing to take steps to tackle the financial crisis and reject protectionism.Afterwards, Mr Yang said the discussions had been constructive and produced positive results, with both countries agreeing to take steps to tackle the financial crisis and reject protectionism.
Mrs Clinton said they had focused on the global financial crisis, climate change and security issues including North Korea.Mrs Clinton said they had focused on the global financial crisis, climate change and security issues including North Korea.
Asked whether she had raised the issue of human rights, Mrs Clinton said she had held candid discussions on the subject with Mr Yang, the BBC's James Reynolds in China says.Asked whether she had raised the issue of human rights, Mrs Clinton said she had held candid discussions on the subject with Mr Yang, the BBC's James Reynolds in China says.
Her Chinese counterpart said the two sides saw the subject differently, our correspondent says, but he stressed that China did respect human rights. Mr Yang said the two sides saw the subject differently, our correspondent says, but he stressed that China did respect human rights.
Before she arrived, many in Beijing were waiting to see if Mrs Clinton would publicly raise the thorny issue of human rights. Shortly before arriving in Beijing, Mrs Clinton said that the debate with China over human rights, Taiwan and Tibet should not interfere with attempts to reach consensus on broader issues.
In the past, US officials have kept discussions on the topic behind closed doors, for fear of embarrassing their hosts. "Our pressing on those issues (human rights, Taiwan and Tibet) can't interfere with the global economic crisis, the global climate change crisis and the security crises," she said.
But Mrs Clinton openly criticised Beijing's record on women's rights when she visited China in 1995, during the presidency of her husband, Bill Clinton. "We have to have a dialogue that leads to an understanding and co-operation on each of those."
Before meeting Chinese ministers, Mrs Clinton said abiding disagreements with China over human rights, Taiwan and Tibet should not interfere with broader bilateral co-operation.
Pyongyang's allyPyongyang's ally
On the economy, Mrs Clinton had been expected to raise US concerns that China has artificially lowered the value of its currency to gain an advantage in exports to the US - its biggest market. Mrs Clinton has a precedent to follow - it is her own The BBC's James Reynolds class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/jamesreynolds/2009/02/hillary_clintons_visit_to_beij.html">Reynolds' blog: Clinton's agenda The subject of North Korea, and attempts to get six-party talks on Pyongyang's nuclear programme back on track, are also high on the agenda for Mrs Clinton in Beijing. On the economy, Mrs Clinton sought to reassure China that its massive holdings of US treasury notes would remain a good investment.
"I appreciate greatly the Chinese government's continuing confidence in United States treasuries. I think this is well-grounded confidence," she said.
Mrs Clinton has a precedent to follow - it is her own The BBC's James Reynolds Reynolds' blog: Overcoat etiquette
Mrs Clinton also stressed the importance of dealing with climate change with China, which has overtaken the US as the world's leading emitter of greenhouse gases.The subject of North Korea, and attempts to get six-party talks on Pyongyang's nuclear programme back on track, are also high on the agenda for Mrs Clinton in Beijing.
China is seen as Pyongyang's closest ally and the country most likely to influence the hard-line communist country's rulers.China is seen as Pyongyang's closest ally and the country most likely to influence the hard-line communist country's rulers.
Speaking earlier in the South Korean capital Seoul, Mrs Clinton urged North Korea to hold talks with the South and end its nuclear ambitions.Speaking earlier in the South Korean capital Seoul, Mrs Clinton urged North Korea to hold talks with the South and end its nuclear ambitions.
Also of concern to the new US administration, under President Barack Obama, are figures showing that China has become the world's largest single producer of carbon emissions.
Beijing says that as a developing nation, it cannot accept a cap on its emissions.
The outcome of talks between Chinese leaders on one hand and Mrs Clinton and US Special Envoy for Climate Change Todd Stern on the other, could affect the outcome of December's UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.