US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner visits China today as the two sides strive to resolve tensions in their relationship, notably over the value of the yuan.
The visit comes just days before Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) heads to Washington for an international summit on nuclear security — an indication that the two countries are trying to get their relationship back on track.
Geithner will hold talks with Vice Premier Wang Qishan (王岐山), who is in charge of economic and financial issues. He also heads the Chinese side of the Strategic and Economic Dialogue with the US, the next round of which takes place next month.
“This is a visit that we just confirmed yesterday,” a spokesman for the US embassy in Beijing, Richard Buangan, said yesterday.
In New Delhi, where Geithner was wrapping up a visit to India, his spokesman Andrew Williams said the US Treasury secretary and Wang had been “working together to find an opportunity to meet in person for some time.”
Geithner was to spend yesterday night in Hong Kong before heading to Beijing today, he said.
The US embassy spokesman said the talks would be closed to the media.
US officials declined to comment on a possible agenda.
The US Treasury at the weekend announced the delay of a report expected in middle of this month that could be critical of China.
Any decision to revalue the yuan “is China’s choice, this is their judgment to make,” Geithner said in India on Tuesday.
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