Differences buried in 'basket' of issues
PRESIDENTS Jiang and Clinton will adopt an 'everything in one basket' approach in their summit talks on Wednesday in an effort to achieve a comprehensive improvement in Sino-US relations.
Diplomatic sources said this omnibus approach for the meeting was agreed by Liu Huaqiu, director of the Office of Foreign Affairs in the State Council, and Sandy Berger, US National Security Adviser, during their preparatory talks two weeks ago for the summit.
As China and the United States are widely divided on several issues, such an approach would enable the two presidents to avoid highlighting their differences which might affect an overall improvement in relations, sources said.
Mr Jiang and Mr Clinton are expected to talk on security, military co-operation, nuclear non-proliferation and co-operation, bilateral trade and China's entry to the World Trade Organisation, China's need to build up a legal system, joint anti-narcotics efforts, human rights, energy and the environment.
Among the issues, security talks will have top priority, and will emphasise mutual strategic benefits of the two nations.
During the security talks, the presidents were expected to agree the two countries stage regular 'strategic dialogues' on the global situation and plan to build up relations towards the 21st century, sources added.
The two presidents would agree the two countries should strengthen top-level contacts to promote co-operation on trade, environment protection, energy, technology, global and regional security and United Nations affairs.
Mr Jiang spelled out China's new US policy in August when he met Mr Berger in Beijing.
The policy phrase means 'widen common understanding, increase trust, decrease difference, jointly create the future'. In May last year, Mr Clinton announced his China policy, which emphasised 'active engagement' and 'taking [China] into the international society'.
