Sino-US strategic dialogue ends with seven agreements

China and the US today ended their two-day Strategic and economic dialogue by signing agreements on climate change and supply of American nuclear reactors, but failed to achieve any  breakthrough on the controversy over the exchange rate of Yuan.

The two sides also failed to reach consensus on the issue of imposing sanctions against North Korea for attacking a South Korean naval ship with Beijing apparently not willing to come out against its reclusive ally.

While the strategic dialogue was held between secretary of state Hillary Clinton and Chinese state councillor Dai Bingguo, the economic dialogue took place between treasury secretary  Timothy Geithner and Chinese vice premier Wang Qishan.

The two countries also inked seven agreements on cover supply chain security and facilitation, and trade finance activities besides an MOU on the safety of the Westinghouse AP 1000 nuclear reactor, which will be used in Chinese nuclear power plants.

Another MoU dealt with the implementation of the Framework for Eco Partnerships -- supporting global action against climate change.

However, China and the US failed to announce any concrete understanding on major issues of discord like revaluing Chinese currency against the dollar.

US accuses China of deliberately pegging Yuan's value low to reap benefits of out of exports. During talks, China is understood is to have assured the US that it will increase the value at its own pace.

On the implementation of sanctions against North Korea for attacking a South Korean naval ship too the disagreement remained with Beijing apparently not willing to come out
against its reclusive ally.

The two sides are also understood to have discussed their perceptions about South Asia, Indo-Pak issues and China's plans to build two 650 mw nuclear reactors in Pakistan.

Clinton and Geithner led a 200-member official delegation at the talks, the second such dialogue with China.

For the first time in recent months, military officials of both the countries also met on the sidelines of the dialogue.

Ma Xiaotian, deputy chief of the general staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army today met the US commander-
in-chief of Pacific Command Robert Willard and discussed
military cooperation.

At the end of their talks, Clinton, who also tried to get Chinese support for sanctions against reclusive North Korea, met president Hu Jintao and prime minister Wen Jiabao. 

Hu, who yesterday promised to address US demand to increase the value of Chinese currency Yuan against dollar to boost American exports, said both the teams should seriously
implement the "achievements".