Vice Commerce Minister visits US

Vice Commerce Minister Zhong Shan begins a 3-day visit to the US today (Wednesday). The aim is to strengthen economic and trade cooperation, and lower the temperature of currency dispute.

The Ministry of Commerce says Vice Minister Zhong Shan will meet delegates from the US Departments of Commerce, State, and Treasury, the Office of The US Trade Representative, and the US International Trade Commission, and several congressmen.

The aim is to expand trade, and promote the healthy and stable development of economic and trade relations.

Zhong Shan will also negotiate over trade issues to increase understanding, and ease frictions.

A semi-annual US Treasury report due on April 15 could label China a "currency manipulator." This would add to pressure on China and could deepen the rift between the two countries.

Zhong Shan says China believes any economic and trade issues can be resolved through dialogue. But China does not want to see imposing an external disturbance on normal channels of communication.

Recently several Chinese officials have repeated the stance of keeping the yuan's exchange rate stable, and rejected politicizing the exchange rate issue. Premier Wen Jiabao says China will not yield to any external pressure to revalue the yuan.

Vice Commerce Minister Zhong Shan begins a 3-day visit to the US today (Wednesday).