http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/business/2012-04/28/c_131558045.htm
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| English.news.cn 2012-04-28 12:23:05 |        |
BEIJING, April 28 (Xinhua) -- China and the United States will hold the seventh round of technical-level negotiations on a two-way investment protection agreement soon.
Chinese Vice Minister of Finance Zhu Guangyao told a press briefing on Saturday morning that the upcoming fourth round of the China-U.S. Economic Dialogue, under the framework of the China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED), will announce the resumption of the negotiations.
Zhu said the two countries attach great importance to the resumption of the negotiations and have held six rounds of talks with the promotion of the S&ED.
He said the negotiations were suspended due to the U.S. side's internal assessment of the text, and their internal consultations and review of the text have finished, according to the U.S. side.
"The Chinese side is glad that the negotiations will resume on the sidelines of the fourth round of the S&ED," Zhu said, adding that technical work for the seventh round of negotiations will begin immediately.
The vice minister said China welcomes the two countries to promote the negotiations on the agreement on the principle settled upon by two heads of state that the two countries will work toward a cooperative partnership featuring mutual respect and reciprocity.
The Chinese side expressed hope that the two sides would conclude all negotiations through their joint efforts, Zhu said.
The negotiation on two-way investment protection agreement was launched on the fourth China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue (SED) in June 2008.
and....
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international-business/china-us-to-hold-talks-on-investment-protection/articleshow/12908270.cms
BEIJING: China and the US will hold the seventh round of technical-level negotiations on a two-way investment protection agreement during the China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue (SED) next week.
The two countries attach great importance to the resumption of the negotiations and have held six rounds of talks with the promotion of the SED, Chinese Vice Minister of Finance Zhu Guangyao told media here today.
The two-day dialogue beginning on May 3, to be attended among others by US Secretary of StateHillary Clinton and Secretary of Treasury Timothy Geithner, will cover an array of contentious issues between the two major powers and large trade partners.
The Chinese side will be represented by its Vice Premier Wang Qishan and State Councillor Dai Bingguo.
Zhu said the negotiations on the investment protection agreement were suspended due to the US side's internal assessment of the text, and their internal consultations and review of the text have finished, according to the U S side.
"The Chinese side is glad that the negotiations will resume on the sidelines of the fourth round of the S&ED," Zhu said, adding that technical work for the seventh round of negotiations will begin immediately.
He said China welcomes promoting the negotiations on the agreement on the principle, settled upon by two heads of state, that the two countries will work toward a cooperative partnership featuring mutual respect and reciprocity. The Chinese side expressed hope that the two sides would conclude all negotiations through their joint efforts, Zhu said.
The two countries attach great importance to the resumption of the negotiations and have held six rounds of talks with the promotion of the SED, Chinese Vice Minister of Finance Zhu Guangyao told media here today.
The two-day dialogue beginning on May 3, to be attended among others by US Secretary of StateHillary Clinton and Secretary of Treasury Timothy Geithner, will cover an array of contentious issues between the two major powers and large trade partners.
The Chinese side will be represented by its Vice Premier Wang Qishan and State Councillor Dai Bingguo.
Zhu said the negotiations on the investment protection agreement were suspended due to the US side's internal assessment of the text, and their internal consultations and review of the text have finished, according to the U S side.
"The Chinese side is glad that the negotiations will resume on the sidelines of the fourth round of the S&ED," Zhu said, adding that technical work for the seventh round of negotiations will begin immediately.
He said China welcomes promoting the negotiations on the agreement on the principle, settled upon by two heads of state, that the two countries will work toward a cooperative partnership featuring mutual respect and reciprocity. The Chinese side expressed hope that the two sides would conclude all negotiations through their joint efforts, Zhu said.
The negotiation on two-way investment protection agreement was launched on the fourth China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue in June 2008.
It is regarded as an important dialogue as top US companies have invested heavily in China.
Beijing is also seeking to invest in US, specially in the infrastructure sector, which it says will help revive the American economy.
US exports to China for the first time hit record high of USD 103.9 billion as Beijing opened up its market more. The bilateral trade amounted to USD 567.21 billion, up 18.3 per cent year-on-year.
US also was expected to take up its concerns over slow appreciation of Chinese currency.
China defends its monetary measures as its economy is on down trend due to falling exports.
and....
http://manilatimes.net/index.php/opinion/editorials/21520-whats-in-store-in-may-us-china-strategic-and-economic-dialogue
What’s in store in May US-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue?
- Published : Sunday, April 22, 2012 00:05
- Article Views : 822
- Written by :
| Photo taken on December 4, 2011, captures soldiers of China’s People’s Liberation Army in a tug-of-war at a military base in Hefei, in eastern China’s Anhui province. Chinese and US defense officials opened military talks in Beijing on December 7, 2011, the US embassy said, a day after China’s president urged the navy to prepare for military combat. AFP PHOTO |
THE “US-China Strategic & Economic Dialogue” is scheduled next month. What’s going to happen there? Will it be held at all?
Yes, it will go on. China-US relations are cloudy these days but larger matters bind the two countries together. Most important of this is that China is America’s biggest banker and holds the largest share of US bonds and US dollars outside of the USA. Also as important is that the US is the biggest customer of China’s export products. This means that China’s growth into a rich and powerful country with a majority of prosperous citizens would be hurt by a serious decline in US-China trade and friendship. For all its great economic and industrial successes, at present only about 10 percent of China’s population (one fourth of mankind) can be said to be enjoying a First World lifestyle and a very large segment of the population (just like the Philippines) are living below the poverty line.Chinese anger with the United States is mainly about the announcement made by President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton of the USA’s intention to remain being a
The term being used by diplomats and analysts is “pivot to Asia” as if America had really left our region.
Early in the year, the Pentagon released a long-awaited strategic review. It shows that, apart from redefining American national security goals and planning to reduce military spending by canceling expensive projects that helped create the US image of being a superpower, the Pentagon’s new strategy has an eye on China’s emergence as an Asian power in South and East Asia but also it’s effort to become a naval power with bases in the Indian Ocean. In this new strategic review, the Pentagon stresses the need to shift the balance of U.S. forces toward the Asia-Pacific.
General Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, highlighted the strategic importance of the Asia-Pacific region. He said the demographic, geopolitical, economic and military trends “are shifting toward the Pacific.”
This Pentagon shift came just after President Obama and Secretary Clinton made moves to enlarge US military cooperation with American allies—chiefly us in the Phiulippines, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand—and opened new areas of partnership—nuclear power—with India.
These US moves with us Filipinos and other Asian countries could not but look to analysts and officials of China as steps to stymie the People’s Republic’s development as a military power, supreme in its own sphere of influence. But it is not just a matter of big-power arrogance for China. It must secure itself from seaborne encirclement by another power — the United States and its allies. It is also busy making sure it does not get encircled in the mountain passes of the Chinese northern, northwestern and northeastern frontiers. That is why China is also reinforcing its so far enduring ties with Burma/Myanmar and preventing any growth of Tibetan and Islamic insurgencies.
With the Chinese rural masses left behind by the dramatic rise to First World wealth and lifestyles of the coastal cities, the People’s Republic cannot afford to have challenges to its power from outside because these might embolden discontented peasants in the poor provinces of Central China to rise against Beijing.That is something we in the Philippines and Asean should not want to happen.
We should want China to continue being a stable great neighbor, to grow richer, to have a more equitably prosperous population.
But we in the Philippines should also want to have our sovereignty respected by everyone, including or especially by China which is a great power.
And that is why we should have a modern and credible Armed Forces of the Philippines—with the help of the United States with whom we have a Mutual Defense Treatry.
China’s suspicion of US moves in Asia-Pacific
Unfortunately, it is in the nature of geopolitics for analysts and alert officials of sovereign states to be wary of moves by others that might pose a threat.
Simon Tay, chairman of Singapore’s Institute of International Affairs, is correct. “If you are a strategic thinker in China,” he said of the new US strategy “pivoting toward the Asia-Pacific” that involves building a more active US-Singapore military ties, “”you do not have to be a paranoid conspiracy theorist to think that the US is trying to bandwagon Asia against China.”
Chinese analysts and officials’ suspicion that the Philippines and the USA are bent on building up their alliance against China was highlighted when Sec, Clinton used “West Philippine Sea” in a statement referring to China’s aggressive behavior. We Filipinos should be thankful.
Both President Obama and Sec. Clinton have many times affirmed the US role as an Asia-Pacific Power in the course of talking about trade, regional security and US relations with China and offering US willingness to mediate in China’s conflicts with other countries over territory and rights to explore for oil and other minerals.
China resents being contained by the US and its allies. It’s state media, specially Global Times, have referred to our country as a “pawn” of the United States. The Chinese would like us to stop being an ally of the US and abandon our Balikatan and other exercises.
The Chinese must feel that containment and encirclement of their country are the motives for US-Philippine, US-Vietnamese and other war-game partnerships. They will feel even more insecure with the opening of a new US-Australian military base in Darwin, Australia.First Strategic & Economic Dialogue after “pivot”
The Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) set to be held next month will be the first since the 2011 Obama announcement and the Pentagon review’s disclosure of the USA’s strategic shift to the Asia-Pacific.
The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace held a roundtable—with US policymakers and Chinese scholars— last March on the future of US-China relations and what lies ahead in the scheduled Security and Economic Dialogue in May.
The roundtable was conducted by Carnegie’s Paul Haenle and Chen Qi. These are the highlights of the interview as published in Carnegie’s website.
“Fallout of the U.S. Pivot to Asia: Is China Too Aggressive? One US participant speculated that China’s increased aggression, particularly in the South China Seas, might have catalyzed the US pivot to Asia. A Chinese scholar asserted that US rhetoric certainly implies that China’s aggressive behavior towards its Asian neighbors was a major influence for the new policy.
However, another US discussant suggested that from the US perspective, the fact that other Southeast Asian nations simply perceive China as potentially threatening has influenced the United States refocus on the Asia Pacific. He also noted that China had welcomed the United States to play a positive role in the Asia-Pacific and the United States is merely accepting this offer.
“U.S. Emphasis on Competition over Cooperation: Chinese scholars pointed out that the US pivot to Asia policy has generated pessimism in China. As a result, the United States now appears to be emphasizing competition over cooperation in bilateral relations. While top Chinese officials have concerns over the new US policy, President Hu Jintao and Barack Obama have attempted to ease the tensions through dialogue and reassurances, participants added.
“Fear of U.S. Containment: A recurring view among Chinese observers is that the United States is seeking to contain China’s growing power. Several of the US discussants insisted that the US pivot towards Asia was not intended to isolate China, but rather to enhance economic and diplomatic cooperation in the region. The new Trans-Pacific Partnership is aimed at strengthening and integrating regional economic relations, though the Chinese scholars expressed concerns over whether China will be excluded from membership.
“Mutual Reassurance to no avail
“China’s Reassurances Lacking Substance: While both China and the United States have taken measures to reassure each other of their good intentions, suspicion continues to persist within the bilateral relationship. One Chinese discussant assured the American participants that Chinese foreign policy will remain consistent, and its white papers should help to assure the United States that China has no intentions to act aggressively.
“US Reassurances Equally Unsatisfactory: The Chinese discussant further pointed out that while the United States wants reassurance, it has done nothing on its part to reassure China of its goodwill. The announced pivot towards Asia only fosters more suspicion and mistrust. A US participant claimed, however, that public statements help offer reassurance, and that these have not been asymmetrical with China’s emphasis on its white papers.
“China Wants More than Just Words: Chinese scholars insisted that the reassurance that China is looking for is not more rhetoric, but for actual distancing by the United States from China’s regional and international issues. This means that the United States should remain silent on issues regarding China’s bilateral relations with its neighbors and other international partners, especially regarding issues of territorial dispute.
“Both Chinese and US participants agreed on the need to improve the current state of relations between the two nations. Formal and informal dialogues such as the S&ED provide the best avenue for creating mutual trust and understanding. One participant pointed out that this is not a zero-sum game, and the notions of hegemonic competition must be abandoned if future progress is to be made.”
The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing cooperation between nations and promoting active international engagement by the United States. Founded in 1910, its work is nonpartisan and dedicated to achieving practical results.
That the US-China S&E Dialogue will push through in May is indicated by the holding as scheduled of preparatory meetings.
Another, a bigger Chinese surveillance ship appears
Meanwhile, China continues to be aggressive against the Philippines in pressing its sovereignty on Bajo de Masinloc (the Panatag or Scarbo-rough Shoal.)On Saturday, it sent another, a bigger ship to Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, according to Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) chief, Lt. General Anthony Alcantara. He said Philippine Coast Guard sighted a “bigger” Chinese vessel at the shoal Saturday morning.
“China’s Reassurances Lacking Substance: While both China and the United States have taken measures to reassure each other of their good intentions, suspicion continues to persist within the bilateral relationship. One Chinese discussant assured the American participants that Chinese foreign policy will remain consistent, and its white papers should help to assure the United States that China has no intentions to act aggressively.
“US Reassurances Equally Unsatisfactory: The Chinese discussant further pointed out that while the United States wants reassurance, it has done nothing on its part to reassure China of its goodwill. The announced pivot towards Asia only fosters more suspicion and mistrust. A US participant claimed, however, that public statements help offer reassurance, and that these have not been asymmetrical with China’s emphasis on its white papers.
“China Wants More than Just Words: Chinese scholars insisted that the reassurance that China is looking for is not more rhetoric, but for actual distancing by the United States from China’s regional and international issues. This means that the United States should remain silent on issues regarding China’s bilateral relations with its neighbors and other international partners, especially regarding issues of territorial dispute.
“Both Chinese and US participants agreed on the need to improve the current state of relations between the two nations. Formal and informal dialogues such as the S&ED provide the best avenue for creating mutual trust and understanding. One participant pointed out that this is not a zero-sum game, and the notions of hegemonic competition must be abandoned if future progress is to be made.”
The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing cooperation between nations and promoting active international engagement by the United States. Founded in 1910, its work is nonpartisan and dedicated to achieving practical results.
That the US-China S&E Dialogue will push through in May is indicated by the holding as scheduled of preparatory meetings.
Another, a bigger Chinese surveillance ship appears
Meanwhile, China continues to be aggressive against the Philippines in pressing its sovereignty on Bajo de Masinloc (the Panatag or Scarbo-rough Shoal.)On Saturday, it sent another, a bigger ship to Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, according to Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) chief, Lt. General Anthony Alcantara. He said Philippine Coast Guard sighted a “bigger” Chinese vessel at the shoal Saturday morning.
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