Clinton: China and US must forge closer ties

21/02/09 06:06 CET

world news

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The US and China must forge closer ties, the American Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said on a visit to Beijing.

Cooperation on a range of issues from the economy to global climate change and North Korea was vital, Clinton told the Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on the fourth and final leg of a tour of Asia. It is Clinton’s first trip abroad in her new role in the Obama administration. Yang said: “The larger situation requires our two countries to strengthen dialogue and work together to elevate our relationship to a new level.” On the economy, Clinton was scheduled to raise US concerns over China artificially lowering the value of its currency to gain an advantage on the export market. The prickly subject of human rights was also on the agenda during private talks, an issue raised once before by Clinton when she openly criticised the regime’s record on women’s rights on a visit to China during her husband’s presidency in 1995.More about: China, USA

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Mali: Rebel groups agree to creation of Islamic state

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