A tone of cautious optimism is apparent in Washington ahead of talks due to begin today between Chinese and US officials on the mainland's entry to the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
Clinton administration officials, diplomats and business lobbyists all say the atmosphere is vastly different to the gloom pervading talks in Washington six weeks ago between US Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky and Foreign Trade Minister Shi Guangsheng.
Then the pair met for two hours, both sides apparently unwilling to budge in some of the first efforts at negotiation since the bombing by Nato of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade in May put already stuttering preparations on ice.
Now the thaw slowly underway in other areas is making its impact felt, helped by the fact that the WTO ministerial meeting in Seattle is just three weeks away.
As late as Friday, officials were unsure of progress, saying it was up to China to respond to recent overtures.
Suddenly, Ms Barshefsky had an invitation, a visa and was on a plane to Beijing less than 24 hours after President Jiang Zemin replied positively by phone on Saturday to pleas for meaningful talks from President Bill Clinton.
