Outspoken China critic and US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi toured Shanghai yesterday on the first leg of a mainland tour - but made no public comments on human rights.
Mrs Pelosi is leading a delegation from the United States to discuss co-operation on clean energy and action to combat climate change. She is due to arrive in Beijing today, where she is to meet President Hu Jintao and address university students.
The trip comes just a week ahead of the highly sensitive 20th anniversary of the June 4, 1989, Tiananmen crackdown on pro-democracy students. The visit may potentially embarrass mainland authorities, given Mrs Pelosi's past comments on Beijing's human rights record.
However, she chose to focus on improving Sino-US ties yesterday.
'On this trip to China, I can visit old friends and meet many new friends,' she said, during a meeting with Shanghai mayor Han Zheng , adding that there were various topics of 'mutual interest' to discuss.
While not stepping on Beijing's toes, she did issue a strong condemnation of the nuclear test in North Korea, stating that it was a 'clear violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1718'.
'Such action by North Korea is unacceptable and cause for great alarm,' she said, adding that the US delegation would urge mainland authorities to try to persuade Pyongyang to return to six-nation talks.