Paulson for Chinese economic reforms
Afp, Beijing
US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson renewed efforts in meetings with top leaders Tuesday to persuade China to allow faster currency appreciation and wean itself off exports by adjusting consumption. The former Goldman Sachs chief executive met with Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi and central bank governor Zhou Xiaochuan in the latest round of a bi-annual economic strategic dialogue between the two nations. Paulson, who helped establish the talks in 2006 to ease trade tensions between the two economic powerhouses, is to meet President Hu Jintao on Wednesday. His visit comes amid growing pressure to reduce the yawning US trade deficit with China and moves in the US Congress to punish Beijing for what some say are unfair trade policies. The three-day visit began Monday in China's vast and poor northwestern province of Qinghai, where he inspected a range of environmental protection projects. "I am sure your visit to Qinghai will deeply enrich the material you can present to Congress in future testimony," Wu told Paulson after a one-on-one meeting. "In making this contrast, you can understand -- who could China threaten?"
| 
