US and China wrap up Latam talks
(AP)
Updated: 2006-04-14 22:00
China and the United States wrapped up on Friday their first
formal talks on Latin America.
Thomas Shannon, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere
affairs, said he had held two days of talks with Chinese officials on Latin
America, the first such consultations between the nations.
The two sides discussed regional stability and agreed to create a mechanism
for regular consultation about a region that some analysts fear could be a site
for rivalry.
"What we focused on was not a desire by either party to lock-down resources
or lock-down the market," Shannon told a news conference in the Chinese capital.
"Quite the contrary. What we focused on was how to work within the region ...
to ensure political stability and ensure the right kind of economic decisions
are made."
The right decisions were those that helped create environments conducive to
investment and trade, as China increased its commercial activities in the
region, he added.
The United States has long been closely involved in
the region politically and economically, despite periodic resentment there of the domineering presence
to the north.
The Beijing discussions also
covered energy cooperation.
"Our Chinese counterpart made clear their engagement in the region was focused primarily on economic and
trade issues and was not political in nature," Shannon said.
Asked if Latin America was on the agenda for a meeting later this month
between Chinese President Hu Jintao and U.S. counterpart George W. Bush, Shannon
said it could be.
"It would not surprise me if it was raised, it's an important region of the
world for both countries."
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