VICE-FOREIGN Minister Liu Huaqiu will visit the United States next week for arms control talks, signalling Sino-US relations may improve this year.
Mr Liu will also be responsible for preparing a meeting between US Secretary of State Warren Christopher and Foreign Minister Qian Qichen in New York later this month.
The arms limitation dialogue was suspended by China a year ago over issues such as human rights and trade.
Mr Liu, head of the Foreign Affairs Office under the State Council, will lead a group of arms control experts in the talks.
Their discussions are expected to focus on China's observations on the global Missile Technology Control Regime. Other sensitive issues such as North Korea will also be raised.
The US imposed sanctions on China in August 1993 when it accused Beijing of sending Pakistan components and technology suitable for assembling M-11 missiles in violation of international agreements.
'If the talks go well, both countries will resume discussions on nuclear co-operation for peaceful purposes which will entail the transfer of American technology in these sensitive areas,' a diplomatic source said.
