Podcast

Clinton's surprise China trip confirmed

Updated: 2010-10-28 12:55

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has added a last-minute stop in Hainan province to her 13-day Asia-Pacific tour, the Foreign Ministry confirmed on Wednesday, after the US State Department announced the news earlier.

She is scheduled to meet State Councilor Dai Bingguo on Saturday, and they are expected to discuss economic issues ahead of next month's Group of 20 summit in Seoul and the expected visit to the US of President Hu Jintao early next year, the US State Department said.

The stop comes only days after US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner made a similar unexpected stop in Qingdao, Shandong province, for talks with Vice-Premier Wang Qishan. Details were not released but news reports said they discussed currency issues.

"We are seriously engaged in high-level diplomacy to ensure that this trip and the preparations for it go smoothly," Kurt Campbell, assistant secretary of state for East Asia and Pacific Affairs, who will accompany Clinton, told a State Department briefing in Washington on Tuesday.

"It's very important to have a strong, constructive relationship with China," Campbell said.

"I think most ... in Asia appreciate the need for a cool-headed, constructive diplomacy between the United States and China," he added.

The frequent and high-level meetings between the two countries seem to contradict the perception that bilateral ties have nosedived since the beginning of this year.

Beijing and Washington have clashed recently over the value of China's currency, US arms sales to Taiwan and US President Barack Obama's February meeting with the Dalai Lama.

The two countries have also been at loggerheads over the South China Sea, where China and several Southeast Asian countries have conflicting territorial claims.

Analysts said that through frequent exchanges between senior officials of each side, either formal or informal, Washington and Beijing are looking for ways to ease tension ahead of the reported upcoming visit by Hu to the White House.

Questions:

1. Which province will Clinton visit?

2. How long is her Asia-Pacific tour?

3. Who is the US assistant secretary for East Asia?

Answers:

1. Hainan.

2. 13 days.

3. Kurt Campbell.

去聽寫專區一展身手

（中國日報網英語點津 Helen 編輯）

Clinton's surprise China trip confirmed

About the broadcaster:

Clinton's surprise China trip confirmed

Lee Hannon is Chief Editor at China Daily with 15-years experience in print and broadcast journalism. Born in England, Lee has traveled extensively around the world as a journalist including four years as a senior editor in Los Angeles. He now lives in Beijing and is happy to move to China and join the China Daily team.