Issues at China dialogue extend beyond Chen

Issues at China dialogue extend beyond Chen

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BEIJING Top government officials from the United States and China opened a two-day conference here Thursday with pledges to overcome their differences, but without mentioning the latest one: the diplomatic limbo of blind legal activist Chen Guangcheng.

The story of Chen's escape from home detention, protection by U.S. diplomats, hospitalization and reunification with his family, and sudden desire to leave China for America has overshadowed the fourth annual Strategic and Economic Dialogue between the two nations.

While Chen remained inside a state-run hospital and no longer under U.S. protection, Chinese President Hu Jintao told the scores of conferees: "We need to trust each other."

That could prove difficult on the human rights front a topic broached only in broad terms at the session by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

"We believe that all governments do have to answer to citizens' aspirations for dignity and the rule of law," she said in prepared remarks. "The United States believes that no state can legitimately deny the universal rights that belong to every human being or punish those who exercise them."

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner also confronted the need for changes in China during his opening remarks, following years of disputes over its trade practices, currency rates and Internet piracy. "China is strong enough to embrace the reforms that we seek," he said.

Dozens of top U.S. officials attended the two-day conference, including Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, Commerce Secretary John Bryson and Trade Representative Ron Kirk. No breakthroughs were expected on key issues that divide the two governments, which range from Syria's brutal crackdown on protesters to China's claim of jurisdiction throughout the South China Sea.

"It is impossible for China and the United States to see eye-to-eye on every issue," Hu said. Still, he said those differences should not interfere with "the larger interests of Chinese-U.S. relations."