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Joe Biden visits China for economic talks | Joe Biden visits China for economic talks |
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US Vice-President Joe Biden is flying to China for talks likely to focus on the economy after the downgrading of US debt and ensuing market turmoil. | US Vice-President Joe Biden is flying to China for talks likely to focus on the economy after the downgrading of US debt and ensuing market turmoil. |
China is the US government's biggest foreign creditor, holding $1tn (£608bn) of debt, and has called on it to do more to reduce its budget deficit. | China is the US government's biggest foreign creditor, holding $1tn (£608bn) of debt, and has called on it to do more to reduce its budget deficit. |
Officials say Mr Biden will explain the finer points of a "very strong deficit reduction package" agreed by Congress. | Officials say Mr Biden will explain the finer points of a "very strong deficit reduction package" agreed by Congress. |
He will also talk of "tremendous mutual interest" in global economic recovery. | He will also talk of "tremendous mutual interest" in global economic recovery. |
Vice-President Biden is hoping to reassure Beijing that President Barack Obama's administration has a handle on economic policy in the wake of a downgrade by ratings agency Standard & Poor's, says the BBC's Steve Kingstone in Washington. | |
China's state-run media was scathing over the recent political showdown in the US over how to increase the debt ceiling and avert a financial default. | |
State media criticised the US "addiction to debt", calling it irresponsible and demanding that America live within its means. | |
Human rights | Human rights |
Mr Biden is travelling at the invitation of his counterpart, Xi Jinping, as the Obama administration seeks to strengthen ties with the next generation of Chinese leaders. | |
Mr Xi is widely expected to take over the chairmanship of the Chinese Communist Party in 2012 and to be formally anointed as president in March 2013. | |
This visit, which was agreed in January, will pave the way for Mr Xi to visit Washington later in the year. | |
In recent years, the US and China have been at loggerheads over a number of issues including trade flows and the value of the Chinese yuan. | |
From the American side, there are continuing concerns about China's currency - which is seen as artificially strong - and over a sharp increase in military spending by Beijing. | From the American side, there are continuing concerns about China's currency - which is seen as artificially strong - and over a sharp increase in military spending by Beijing. |
In recent months there have been claims of cyber-attacks emanating from China, while long-standing differences over human rights and Tibet are likely to surface. | In recent months there have been claims of cyber-attacks emanating from China, while long-standing differences over human rights and Tibet are likely to surface. |
But overall, Washington insists this is fundamentally a partnership and dismisses suggestions that US-China relations are a zero-sum game, our correspondent says. | |
The US vice-president's official five-day visit to the region will also take in Japan and Mongolia. | |