Reuters, Washington :
The United States said on Thursday it would not “paper over” differences between the United States and China when top officials of the world’s two largest economies meet to discuss financial and political strategy in Washington next week.
Daniel Russel, assistant secretary of state for East Asia and the Pacific, set the scene for contentious exchanges at the annual US-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) by stressing that differences over the South China Sea, cyber security and human rights would be high on the US agenda.
Speaking after revelations of massive cyber attacks on US government computers in the past two weeks, which US officials have blamed on Chinese hackers, Russel said cyber security issues would be raised throughout the talks from Monday to Wednesday in Washington.
The United States would also stress human rights, including the issue of democracy in Hong Kong, China’s “very problematic” law on NGOs, and its restrictions on media and civil society, he told a media briefing.
China has indicated a desire to avoid acrimony at the talks, looking to set the scene for a successful visit to Washington by Chinese President Xi Jinping in September.
Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang told a forum in Beijing on today that China would seek to “constructively handle and control” differences with the United States on maritime disputes, cyber security, and human rights.
“On these issues our attitude is to not evade and to resolutely defend China’s interests,” Zheng said.
The United States said on Thursday it would not “paper over” differences between the United States and China when top officials of the world’s two largest economies meet to discuss financial and political strategy in Washington next week.
Daniel Russel, assistant secretary of state for East Asia and the Pacific, set the scene for contentious exchanges at the annual US-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) by stressing that differences over the South China Sea, cyber security and human rights would be high on the US agenda.
Speaking after revelations of massive cyber attacks on US government computers in the past two weeks, which US officials have blamed on Chinese hackers, Russel said cyber security issues would be raised throughout the talks from Monday to Wednesday in Washington.
The United States would also stress human rights, including the issue of democracy in Hong Kong, China’s “very problematic” law on NGOs, and its restrictions on media and civil society, he told a media briefing.
China has indicated a desire to avoid acrimony at the talks, looking to set the scene for a successful visit to Washington by Chinese President Xi Jinping in September.
Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang told a forum in Beijing on today that China would seek to “constructively handle and control” differences with the United States on maritime disputes, cyber security, and human rights.
“On these issues our attitude is to not evade and to resolutely defend China’s interests,” Zheng said.
