U.S., China Agree To Regular Economic Discussion Pact
U.S. and Chinese officials have announced they will hold top-level meetings on economic issues at least twice a year, under a pact to expand long-term relations and ease tensions between the two nations. The announcement Wednesday came during U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson's visit to Beijing.
Officials say the agreement it is designed to promote economic cooperation through regular, high-level dialogue between the two nations. They say the agreement has the support of President Bush and Chinese President Hu Jintao. U.S. officials say the announcement does not mean the United States will back down on economic concerns such as the flexibility of Chinese currency.
U.S. and E.U. officials have argued that China's currency, the yuan, is undervalued, giving Chinese products an unfair advantage in international markets.
Paulson meets today with Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi and other top ranking officials.
美国和中国官员宣布，根据一项旨在扩大两国间长远关系以及缓和紧张局势的协议，双方每年至少将举行两次有关经济问题的高层会谈。这一消息在美国财政部长保尔森星期三在北京访问期间宣布。
有关官员说，这项协议是为了通过两国间定期高层对话来推动经济合作。他们说，协议得到了美国总统布什和中国国家主席胡锦涛的支持。美国官员说，这一消息并不意味着美国会在关注的诸如中国货币灵活性等经济问题上退缩。
美国和欧盟官员争辩说，中国人民币的币值偏低，使中国产品在国际市场上拥有不公平的优势。
保尔森今天会见了中国国国务院副总理吴仪和其他高级官员。
